Monk
/mʌŋk/noun
A man who has dedicated his life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Did you know?The word 'monk' comes from the Greek 'monachos', meaning 'solitary', connecting to ancient practices of isolation for spiritual enlightenment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“to think, to be mindful, to remember.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μοναχός (monachos)
“solitary, alone, single, referring to a hermit or solitary religious practitioner.”
Late Latin
Latin
monachus
“a person living alone, a hermit, especially one who has dedicated himself to monastic life.”
Old French
Old French
monke
“a person who lives in a religious community, particularly a male religious figure.”
Middle English
Middle English
monk
“a member of a monastic community, especially one who follows the rule of St. Benedict.”
Modern English
English
monk
“a man who is a member of a religious order, often living in a monastery.”