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Webster 1913 Edition
Monastery
Mon′as-te-ry
,Noun.
pl.
Monasteries
(#)
. [L.
monasterium
, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] a solitary, a monk, fr. [GREEK] to be alone, live in solitude, fr. μόνοσ
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.
Syn. – Convent; abbey; priory. See
Cloister
. Webster 1828 Edition
Monastery
MON'ASTERY
,Noun.
A house of religious retirement, or of seclusion from ordinary temporal concerns, whether an abbey, a priory or a nunnery. The word is usually applied to the houses of monks, mendicant friars and nuns.