monk

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

monk, n. [AS. munuc, munec, munc, L. monachus, Gr. , fr. mo`nos alone. Cf. Monachism.].

•  A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion; one of a religious community of men inhabiting a monastery, and bound by vows to a life of chastity, obedience, and poverty.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Monks in some respects agree with regulars, as in the substantial vows of religion; but in other respects monks and regulars differ; for that regulars, vows excepted, are not tied up to so strict a rule of life as monks are."  [1913 Webster]
•  A blotch or spot of ink on a printed page, caused by the ink not being properly distributed. It is distinguished from a friar, or white spot caused by a deficiency of ink.  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece of tinder made of agaric, used in firing the powder hose or train of a mine.  [1913 Webster]
•  A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthocephalus.  [1913 Webster]

Monk bat (Zoöl.), a South American and West Indian bat (Molossus nasutus); -- so called because the males live in communities by themselves. -- Monk bird(Zoöl.), the friar bird. -- Monk seal (Zoöl.), a species of seal (Monachus albiventer) inhabiting the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic. -- Monk's rhubarb (Bot.), a kind of dock; -- also called patience (Rumex Patientia).

OXFORD DICTIONARY

monk, n. a member of a religious community of men living under certain vows esp. of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Derivative

monkish adj.

Etymology

OE munuc ult. f. Gk monakhos solitary f. monos alone

THESAURUS

monk

Cape polecat, abbacomes, abbot, ape, ascetic, bar, beadsman, bear, brother, caloyer, cavy, celibataire, celibate, cenobite, chimp, chimpanzee, coenobite, conventual, conventual prior, coon, ferret, foumart, friar, glutton, grand prior, groundhog, guinea pig, hedgehog, hermit, hieromonach, lay abbot, lay brother, mendicant, misogamist, misogynist, monastic, monkey, mousehound, nun, opossum, palmer, pilgrim, pillar saint, pillarist, polecat, porcupine, possum, prairie dog, priest, prior, quill pig, raccoon, religieux, religious, single, skunk, stylite, unmarried, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zoril

ROGET THESAURUS

monk

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.