Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

abbot

/ˈæbət/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.43 in modern English

Syllables
ab-bot
IPA
/ˈæbət/
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.

noun

The pastor or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter.

noun

A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.

noun

A brothel-owner's husband or lover.

Archaic; Slang

noun

A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.

Archaic; Slang

name

A surname.

Countable; Uncountable

name

A town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States, named after John Abbot.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English abbot, abbod, abbed, from Old English abbat, abbad, abbod, from Latin abbās (“father”), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbâs), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”). Doublet of abba, abbé, and bwana.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: abbot, abbat, abbās, ἀββᾶς, אבא

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈæbət/
  • British English: /ˈæbət/

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in People.

Inflected Forms

abbots (plural)

Derived Forms

Abbot abbotcy abbotess Abbotford abbotric abbotry Abbotsbury Abbotsford Abbotsham abbotship Abbott Abbottford

Phrases

abbot-bishop abbot-general abbot general abbot nullius Abbot of Misrule abbot of the people Abbot of Unreason abbot on the cross

Frequently Paired Words

abba abbacy abbatial abbé abbess Abraham Abu Dhabi archimandrite

Synonyms

archimandrite

Homonyms

Abbot Abbott

Rhymes With

habit rabbit abbott inhabit cabot kabat

Questions

How do you pronounce abbot?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈæbət/.
What does abbot mean?
The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
Where does abbot come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce abbot

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “abbot”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈæbət/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “abbot”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “abbot” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.