Monasticism
/ˌmɒnəˈtɪsɪzəm/noun
The way of life, principles, or practices of monks or nuns living in religious seclusion.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek monastḗs, “one who lives alone,” from mónos, “alone,” a root that also gave English words like monotony and monotone.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“to remain, stay”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mónos
“alone, single”
Ancient Greek
Greek
monastḗs
“a solitary person; later, a monk”
Late Latin
Latin
monasticus
“belonging to monks or monastic life”
Old French
Old French
monastique
“monastic; of a monastery”
Middle English
English
monastik / monastical
“pertaining to monks or monasteries”
Modern English
English
monasticism
“the system or practice of monastic life”