monasteries

1 definition found

monasteries - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Monastery \Mon"as*te*ry\, n.; pl. Monasteries. [L.
     monasterium, Gr. ?, fr. ? a solitary, a monk, fr. ? to be
     alone, live in solitude, fr. mo`nos alone. Cf. Minister.]
     A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary
     temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely
     applied to such a house for females.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Convent; abbey; priory. See Cloister.
          [1913 Webster]