— monasterial /mon'euh stear"ee euhl/ , adj.
/mon"euh ster'ee/ , n. , pl. monasteries .
1. a house or place of residence occupied by a community of persons, esp. monks, living in seclusion under religious vows.
2. the community of persons living in such a place.
[ 1350-1400; ME monasterium monastérion monk house, orig. hermit's cell, equiv. to monas-, var. s. of monázein to be alone (see MON-) + -terion neut. adj. suffix denoting place ]
Syn. 1. cloister; abbey, priory, friary, lamasery.