monastery
UK: ˈmɒnəstri | US: ˈmɑːnəsteri
n. a residence for monks or nuns under religious vows
n. a secluded place dedicated to spiritual contemplation
monastery = monas<alone> + tery<noun suffix (place)>
- monas (from Greek monos): meaning "alone" or "solitary," reflecting the isolated lifestyle of monks.
- tery (Latin-derived suffix -terium): denotes a place associated with a specific function (e.g., "monastery" as a dwelling for solitary religious life).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Late Latin monasterium, derived from Greek monastērion ("hermit's cell"), rooted in monazein ("to live alone"). This reflects the early Christian monastic tradition of solitary asceticism, later evolving into communal religious dwellings. The suffix -tery (via Latin -terium) systematically marks such places, akin to "cemetery" or "baptistery."
The ancient monastery perched on the cliff attracts pilgrims worldwide.
She spent a year in silence at a Buddhist monastery.
The monastery’s library preserved medieval manuscripts.
They converted the abandoned building into a monastery.
His paintings depict the serene gardens of a Spanish monastery.