convent
UK /ˈkɒn.vɛnt/ · US /ˈkɑn.vɛnt/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms convents conventing convented
- noun A religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.
- noun The buildings and pertaining surroundings in which such a community lives.
- noun (now especially) Synonym of nunnery, a female religious community and its residence.
- noun (India) A Christian school.
- noun A gathering of people lasting several days for the purpose of discussing or working on topics previously selected.
- noun A coming together; a meeting.
- verb (obsolete) To call before a judge or judicature; to summon; to convene.
- verb (obsolete) To meet together; to concur.
- verb (obsolete) To be convenient; to serve.
- proper noun A census-designated place, the parish seat of St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English convent, variant of covent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventus, perfect participle of the verb convenio (whence ultimately convene), see con- + venio. Doublet of coven.
From Latin convenio (past participle conventus), whence also convene; so of the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A coming together; a meeting. [Obs.]
- noun An association or community of recluses devoted to a religious life; a body of monks or nuns.
- verb To meet together; to concur. [obs.] Beau. & Fl.
- verb To be convenient; to serve. [Obs.]
Etymology [L. conventus a meeting, LL. also, a convent. See Convene, v. i.]
Etymology [L. conventus, p.p. of convenire. See Convene, v. i.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “convent”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details