monastery

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A residence for monks or others who have taken religious vows.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɒnəstɹi/ /ˈmɑnəˌstɛɹi/ /ˈmɑnəstəɹi/ Monastery en us.wav En-us-monastery.ogg

Word forms

monastery monasteries monasterie

Etymology

From Middle English monasterie, from Old French monastere, from Medieval Latin monastērium (“monastery”), from Ancient Greek μοναστήριον (monastḗrion, “hermitage, monastery”), from μοναστήριος (monastḗrios, “alone, made alone”) + -ιον (-ion, “-ium”, suffix forming place names), from μονάζω (monázō, “to be alone”), from μόνος (mónos, “alone”) + -άζω (-ázō, verb-forming suffix). Doublet of minster.

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