cloister
UK: ˈklɔɪstə | US: ˈklɔɪstər
n. 1. A covered walk in a convent, monastery, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.
n. 2. A secluded or sheltered place, often implying isolation from the outside world.
vt. To seclude or shut away from the world, especially in a religious or quiet setting.
cloister = clois<enclose> + ter<noun suffix>
- clois<enclose>: Derived from Old French cloistre (later cloitre), meaning "enclosure" or "monastery," itself from Latin claustrum ("barrier, bolt, enclosure"). The root claudere means "to close."
- ter<noun suffix>: A common suffix in Old French and Latin-derived nouns indicating a place or tool (e.g., monastery, chapter).
Etymology Origin:
The word cloister traces back to the Latin claustrum, reflecting the idea of a "closed space" for spiritual retreat. Medieval monasteries adopted this term for their secluded walkways, symbolizing both physical and spiritual separation from secular life. The evolution from claustrum to cloister involved Old French, where the -strum suffix softened to -stre, later anglicized to -ster. The word retains its dual sense of architectural feature and metaphorical seclusion.
The nuns walked silently along the stone cloister, deep in prayer.
He chose to cloister himself in his study to finish the manuscript.
The university’s courtyard was designed like a medieval cloister.
Modern life leaves little room for the cloistered tranquility of earlier centuries.
The artist’s studio became a cloister where creativity flourished away from distractions.