Word
abbas
Phoneticsab·bas
/əˈbɑs/
Definitions
01abbot
n. an old word for an abbot, who is the leader of a group of monks.
n. the superior or head of a monastery. This form is now obsolete in modern English, having been replaced by 'abbot'.
“The old stories speak of an abbas who ruled the monastery with kindness.”
“In the medieval manuscript, the abbas was depicted presiding over the monks during their evening prayers.”
Archaic
Usage
Used primarily in historical or ecclesiastical contexts to refer to the head of a religious house.
Teaching tip
This sense is archaic; learners should use 'abbot' in all modern contexts unless translating historical Latin texts.
02Arabic name
n. a common male first name or family name in Arabic-speaking cultures.
n. a common Arabic masculine given name or surname, meaning 'lion' or 'stern'.
“My friend Abbas is coming over to help me with my homework.”
“The works of Mahmoud Abbas have been widely discussed in contemporary political science journals.”
Usage
Capitalized as a proper noun.
Teaching tip
While the religious title is archaic, the name is very common globally today.
Real-World Examples
“Among the Palestinian officials barred from entering the US is Mahmoud Abbas , the longtime president of the Palestinian Authority, according to reports .” “The move would prevent Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of two governing Palestinian groups, from traveling to the United States next week for the United Nations General Assembly.”