monk
UK: mʌŋk | US: mʌŋk
n. a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
The word "monk" traces back to Old English munuc, derived from Late Latin monachus (meaning "solitary person" or "hermit"), which in turn comes from Greek monachos (μόναχος), from monos (μόνος, "alone"). The term reflects the solitary or ascetic lifestyle of early Christian monks who lived apart from society. The "-k" ending in English is a phonetic adaptation from Latin/Greek, but the core idea of "solitude" remains central to the word's meaning.
The monk spent hours in silent meditation.
Medieval monks often copied manuscripts by hand.
He decided to become a monk after years of spiritual searching.
The monastery housed over fifty monks.
The monk’s simple robe symbolized his vow of poverty.