Monkery

Quick meaning: Monkery is a noun meaning (dated, often derogatory) The practices of monks; the way of life, behavior, etc. characteristic of monks; monastic life.

Meaning

(dated, often derogatory) The practices of monks; the way of life, behavior, etc. characteristic of monks; monastic life.

More Meanings

1. (dated, derogatory) Monasticism.
2. (dated, often derogatory or humorous) A monastery.
3. (dated, collectively) Monks, considered as a group. (Compare clergy, laity.)

Example Sentences

The sides resemble castellated piles and Gothic cathedrals, so fantastic are the shapes assumed by the natural rock; under St. Saba it became a monkery for all penitents who wished to live a hermit's life.

Polite society won't have the truth. You've got to feed it on lies, or go into a monkery — if that's what they call a masculine nunnery. Don't want to go into a monkery, so I lie. Reluctantly, delicately, frequently.

Even such monkery was confined entirely to the laity; the clergy having cures in villages or in towns, and being therefore precluded from monastic sequestrations. In time, however, monkery found its way among the clergy, […]

You are not to suppose that I, as a good Catholic, am under any obligation to confound the active, intelligent, heroic, and fruitful monasticism of Columba with the systematic stupefaction of manhood in the monkery which came afterwards.

Word Forms

• monkeries

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include monastic, monking, moncke, monastick, monkhood, monkette.

Related Dictionary Tools