abigail

n. a popular female first name.

n. a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'my father's joy'.

“Abigail decided to go by the nickname Abby at her new school.”

“The name Abigail saw a significant resurgence in popularity across English-speaking countries during the early twenty-first century.”

n. a woman in the Bible known for being wise and beautiful.

n. a figure in the Old Testament, the wife of Nabal and later of King David, noted for her intelligence and diplomacy.

“In the Bible story, Abigail brings food to David to protect her household.”

“The biblical Abigail is often cited in theological studies as a model of prudent intervention and strategic peacemaking.”

n. an old-fashioned word for a woman who works as a personal servant for a lady.

n. a lady's waiting-maid; a term derived from the character in Beaumont and Fletcher's play 'The Scornful Lady'.

“The countess rang the bell for her abigail to help her dress for the ball.”

“In nineteenth-century literature, the term abigail was frequently employed to describe the intimate relationship between a noblewoman and her primary servant.”

Archaic · Literary