abbesses

Their superiors were known as abbesses, often held princely rank and had feudal jurisdiction.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913

Fifteen titled abbesses, all of aristocratic lineage, arrived with imposing suites.

Memories of Jane Cunningham Croly Various 1904

We also have now more images of the splendid Vespers, which the Holy Father celebrated in the abbery church of Montecassino with the assistance of Benedictine abbots and abbesses from all over the world.

More from Montecassino 2009

I extend my greetings to the abbots, the abbesses, and to the Benedictine communities present here.

More from Montecassino 2009

Women certainly played a significant role in the early church, and Bede has a lot to say about various female saints and abbesses.

Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

Indeed, the abbesses probably did not come out of a vacuum.

Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

After a few days of vigorous deflowering behind the protective walls of the castle, the men would disburse and the girls would be resold, some to London abbesses for use in brothels, others in France and elsewhere abroad.

Shameless KAREN ROBARDS 2010

Speaking of which, abbesses obviously showed up as prominent figures pretty quickly.

Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

After a few days of vigorous deflowering behind the protective walls of the castle, the men would disburse and the girls would be resold, some to London abbesses for use in brothels, others in France and elsewhere abroad.

Shameless KAREN ROBARDS 2010

The fact that Hild and women like her appear as prominent abbesses wielding considerable influence within a generation of the conversion is among the circumstantial evidence indicating that women with political influence were an accepted feature of pre-conversion English society.

Hereric of Deira Carla 2010