— monastically , adv.
/meuh nas"tik/ , adj. Also, monastical .
1. of or pertaining to monasteries: a monastic library.
2. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of monks or nuns, their manner of life, or their religious obligations: monastic vows.
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a secluded, dedicated, or austere manner of living.
n.
4. a member of a monastic community or order, esp. a monk.
[ 1400-50; late ME monastik monasticus monastikós, equiv. to monas- (verbid s. of monázein to be alone; see MON-) + -ikos -IC, with -t- by analogy with derivatives of agent nouns in -tes (cf. ATHLETE, ATHLETIC) ]