Canon Law Terminology

noun A title given to an abbot who is directly subordinate to the Pope and has no superior authority within the territory of his abbey.

• The abbot nullius is the ecclesiastical equivalent of a territorial prince.
• The abbot nullius is like a boss in charge of a specific area.
• The abbot nullius is the big cheese around here.
• Being the abbot nullius of the project, he had full authority over its execution.

noun a term used in medieval Latin to refer to an abbot who is not under the authority of a bishop

• The abbots nullius were responsible for overseeing territories that were not under the jurisdiction of any diocese.
• The abbots nullius had a lot of power over their territories.
• The abbots nullius were like the bosses of their areas.
• Being an abbot nullius in his own home, he made all the decisions without consulting anyone else.