n.; pl.Monasteries [ L. monasterium, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; a solitary, a monk, fr. &unr_; to be alone, live in solitude, fr. mo`nos alone. Cf. Minister. ] A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely applied to such a house for females. [ 1913 Webster ]