'Monasteries' definitions:
Definition of 'Monasteries'
From: GCIDE
- 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]