I. (ˈ)si|stərshən, -ə̄sh-, -əish- adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Medieval Latin Cisterci um (now Cîteaux ) site of the abbey near Dijon, France + English -an
: of or relating to Cistercians or Cistercianism
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
: a member of an austere order founded on the Benedictine rule as adapted by Robert de Molesme at Cîteaux, France, in 1098, the order being now divided into a group that follows a mitigated rule and a group that follows a more strictly interpreted rule — compare trappist