Topic: Gender (লিঙ্গ),

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The question of the masculine gender of 'abbot' relates to the grammatical concept of gendered nouns, particularly in religious contexts. An 'abbot' is a male leader of a monastery, while the term 'abbess' refers to a female leader of a convent. In traditional Christian monasticism, the roles of abbot and abbess represent the male and female counterparts within the hierarchical structure of religious communities.

Among the provided options: A) abess, B) abbes, C) abbess, and D) abbottes, the correct answer is C) abbess. This term directly corresponds to the role of a female leader in a similar ecclesiastical context, effectively making it the feminine form of 'abbot.' The other options either represent incorrect spellings or do not pertain to the established terminology associated with monastic leadership roles. Understanding these linguistic distinctions is essential for anyone studying religious texts or the historical aspects of monastic life. Hence, 'abbess' is the appropriate choice as it directly denotes the feminine counterpart to the masculine 'abbot.'