Nun

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Nun, n. [OE. nunne, AS. nunne, fr. L. nonna nun, nonnus monk; cf. Gr. , ; of unknown origin. Cf. Nunnery.].

•  A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  [1913 Webster]

  "They holy time is quiet as a nun
  Breathless with adoration."  [1913 Webster]
•  A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of feathers covering the head.  [1913 Webster]

Gray nuns (R. C. Ch.), the members of a religious order established in Montreal in 1745, whence branches were introduced into the United States in 1853; -- so called from the color or their robe, and known in religion as Sisters of Charity of Montreal. -- Nun buoy. See under Buoy.

Nun, n. 

 The 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, corresponding in pronunciation to n.  [PJC]

Nun, n. 

 The 25th letter of the Arabic alphabet, corresponding in pronunciation to n.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Nun, n. a member of a community of women living apart under religious vows.

Derivative

nunhood n. nunlike adj. nunnish adj.

Etymology

ME f. OE nunne and OF nonne f. eccl.L nonna fem. of nonnus monk, orig. a title given to an elderly person

THESAURUS

Nun

abbess, canoness, celibataire, celibate, clergywoman, conventual, lady superior, misogamist, misogynist, monastic, monk, mother superior, novice, postulant, priest, prioress, religieuse, secular canoness, single, sister, superioress, the reverend mother, unmarried

ROGET THESAURUS

Nun

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.

Celibacy

N celibacy, singleness, single blessedness, bachelorhood, bachelorship, misogamy, misogyny, virginity, pucelage, maidenhood, maidenhead, unmarried man, bachelor, Coelebs, agamist, old bachelor, misogamist, misogynist, monogamist, monk, unmarried woman, spinster, maid, maiden, virgin, feme sole, old maid, bachelor girl, girl-bachelor, nun, unmarried, unwed, unwedded, wifeless, spouseless, single.