What is "abbey"

Abbey \Ab"bey\ ([a^]b"b[y^]), n.; pl. Abbeys (-b[i^]z). [OF. aba["i]e, abba["i]e, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr. abbas abbot. See Abbot.]

1. A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy; also, the monastic building or buildings.

   Note: The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the women are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.

2. The church of a monastery.

   Note: In London, the Abbey means Westminster Abbey, and in Scotland, the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood. The name is also retained for a private residence on the site of an abbey; as, Newstead Abbey, the residence of Lord Byron.

   Syn: Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.

mid-13c., "convent headed by an abbot or abbess," from Anglo-French abbeie, Old French abaïe, from Late Latin abbatia, from abbas (genitive abbatis); see abbot.

n. 1 (given name female diminutive=Abigail). 2 (given name male diminutive=Albert). 3 A British surname.

1. n: a church associated with a monastery or convent

2. a convent ruled by an abbess

3. a monastery ruled by an abbot

An abbey is a complex of buildings used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot. It provides a place for religious activities, work and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The concept of the abbey has developed over many centuries from the early monastic ways of religious men and women where they would live isolated from the lay community about them. Religious life in an abbey may be monastic. An abbey may be the home of an enclosed religious order or may be open to visitors. The layout of the church and associated buildings of an abbey often follows a set plan determined by the founding religious order. Abbeys are often self-sufficient while using any abundance of produce or skill to provide care to the poor and needy, refuge to the persecuted or education to the young. Some abbeys offer accommodation to people who are seeking spiritual retreat. There are now famous abbeys in Britain and in Europe.

The Abbey was a short-lived friction drive car assembled by the Abbey Auto Engineering Co. Ltd in Westminster, England. It used a 10.8 hp 1498 cc Coventry-Simplex engine. It was built in 1922 only and cost £315. It also had Marles steering gear and friction drive. The two-seater model sold for ₤315.

Very few seem to have been made.

After 1922 the car may have been sold as the Lewis.

Abbey in itself denotes the Christian monastic community and its buildings, that is presided over by an abbot.

Abbey is a political division returning three Councillors to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. At the 2006 election Jeanne Alexander, Graham Bramley, and Mohammed Fani all of the Labour Party (UK) were elected for a four-year term in office. The population in was .

Lincoln Abbey Ward is one of eleven electoral districts within the city of Lincoln, England. For this ward there are three Councillors who are Kathleen Brothwell Deputy Mayor of Lincoln and member of the Labour party, Fay Smith of the Labour party and Peter West of the Labour party. The population of the ward at the 2011 census was 11,426.

Abbey Coachworks Limited was a British coachbuilding business based in Merton, South West London and later Acton, North West London and was active between 1930 and about 1938.

Arthur P Compton set up several coachbuilding businesses, including Compton, Sons and Terry which was founded in 1929 in Merton, South West London. He left this in 1930 to set up on his own and the other partner D.H. Terry with D.H.B. Power renamed the company Abbey Coachworks. In 1933 the company moved to larger premises in Acton, North West London. In 1936 they took over the Wingham brand from Martin Walter and changed their name to Wingham Martin Walter. They exhibited at the 1937 London Motor Show under the new name but by the late 1930s custom coachbuilding on car maker's chassis was in terminal decline and they seem to have gone out of business shortly afterwards. Martin Walter themselves remained in business and after World War II made a range of motor caravans under the Dormobile name.

Abbey seem to have concentrated on short production runs rather than bespoke bodywork. Cars they equipped included the Wolseley Hornet Special, Rover 20 and various MGs particularly their MG Magna, Fords, Hillmans and Vauxhalls. Some of their production was for other coachbuilders such as Jarvis of Wimbledon and was sold under names other than Abbey.

Abbey is a surname. It may refer to one of the following people:

• Bert Abbey (1869–1962), American baseball player
• David Abbey (born 1941), English cricketer
• Edward Abbey (1927–1989), American author
• Edwin Austin Abbey (1852–1911), artist and illustrator
• George Abbey (born 1932), American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) official
• George Abbey (footballer) (born 1978), Nigerian footballer
• Graham Abbey (born 1971), Canadian actor
• Henry Abbey (1842–1911), American poet
• Henry Eugene Abbey (1846–1896), theatre manager and producer
• Joe Abbey (1925–2014), American football player
• John Abbey (organ builder) (1785–1859), English organ builder
• John Roland Abbey (1894–1969), English book collector
• Leon Abbey (1900–1975), American jazz violinist and bandleader
• Lynn Abbey (born 1948), American author
• Nathan Abbey (born 1978), English football (soccer) player
• Ross Abbey (born 1953), Australian rules football player
• Zema Abbey (born 1977), English football (soccer) player

Abbey is an electoral ward of the Borough of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. The ward covers the centre of the town, south of the River Thames, and is bordered by Battle, Park, Redlands, Katesgrove and Minster wards. Across the river it is bordered by Thames and Caversham wards. The ruins of Reading Abbey lie within the boundaries of the ward, a fact from which it derives its name.

As with all wards, apart from smaller Mapledurham, it elects three councillors to Reading Borough Council. Elections since 2004 are held by thirds, with elections in three years out of four.

In 2011, 2012 and 2014 a Labour Party candidate won each election. These councillors are currently, in order of election: Mohammed Ayub, Tony Page and Bet Tickner.