abbot

/ˈæbət/

/ˈæbət/

Other forms: abbots

An abbot is the head of a monastery. Just as businesses have bosses and teams have coaches, the monastery has an abbot.

The word abbot comes from the Greek abbas, which means "father” as a title with honor. An abbot is the superior of a monastery, the father of the fathers — in other words. Other monks must obey the abbot, and the abbot should lead and inspire all the monks.

Definitions of abbot

1. noun

   the superior of an abbey of monks
   synonyms: archimandrite

   types:

   abbe

   a French abbot

   type of:

   superior

   the head of a religious community