Word
abbatial
Phoneticsab·ba·tial
Definition
adj. relating to a monastery or the person who leads it, the abbot. You use this to describe things that belong to or are managed by a religious leader.
adj. relating to an abbot or an abbey. Typically used to describe the authority, property, or administrative functions of a monastic community.
Examples
“The abbatial gardens are beautifully maintained.”
“The abbatial authority was challenged when the local bishop demanded more control over the monastery's finances.”
“The abbatial seal remained a symbol of the community's independence for centuries, even as the surrounding lands were gradually absorbed by the crown.”
Examples
simple
“The abbatial gardens are beautifully maintained.”
contextual
“The abbatial authority was challenged when the local bishop demanded more control over the monastery's finances.”
complex
“The abbatial seal remained a symbol of the community's independence for centuries, even as the surrounding lands were gradually absorbed by the crown.”
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English abbacyal, derived from Middle French abbatial, derived from Late Latin abbātiāl|is, ~e, from abbā|s, ~tis (“abbot”) + -āl|is, ~e (“-ial”). Doublet of abbot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.