adj. & n.
adj. 1 of or relating to monasteries or the religious communities living in them. 2 resembling these or their way of life; solitary and celibate.
n. a monk or other follower of a monastic rule. monastically adv. monasticism n. monasticize v.tr. (also -ise).
[ F monastique or LL monasticus f. Gk monastikos (as MONASTERY) ]