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.
Syn. -- Convent; abbey; priory. See Cloister.
Hear it pronounced