Mon″as‐te‐ry (?), n.; pl.Monasteries (#). [L. monasterium, Gr. �, fr. � a solitary, a monk, fr. � 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.