priory

n.; pl. Priories [ Cf. LL. prioria. See Prior, n. ] A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; -- sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also cell, and obedience. See Cell, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alien priory, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Cloister. [ 1913 Webster ]