Search Result for "monasteries": 

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]