[1] The relationship is that of the founding abbey or conventual priory, termed the motherhouse, with a monastery composed of the monks or nuns of the new community, which is called the daughter house.
In that situation, the abbot or abbess (or prior or prioress in those monastic congregations which do not have abbots or abbesses) remains the ultimate authority for the affairs of the dependent priory, which is considered an extension of the founding house.
In this sense, the women's house is considered a dependency on that of the men for spiritual direction.
An extension of this is the relationship of responsibility for providing pastoral care to parishes in the surrounding region which is assumed by an abbey or priory.
Unlike the monks, who gradually took on the practice, this relationship has been a distinguishing feature of houses of canons regular, as part of the primacy of the priesthood in their way of life.