monastery

Pronunciation

monastery (US English): /ˈmɑnəstɛri/ (British English): /ˈmɒnəstri/

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• mo (US): /ˈmɑn/ (British): /ˈmɒn/

• /m/: voiced bilabial consonant (both lips come together to make the sound)

• /ɑ/: low central back unrounded vowel (similar to the "aw" in "father" but shorter) - (US)

• /ɒ/: open back rounded vowel (like the "o" in "cot") - (British)

• nas (both): /nə/

• /n/: voiced alveolar nasal consonant (tongue touches the ridge behind your upper front teeth)

• /ə/: schwa, a mid central vowel sound (like the "uh" in "but")

• tery (both): /stɛri/ or /stəri/

• /s/: voiceless alveolar fricative (air rushes through a narrow opening between your tongue and teeth)

• /t/: voiceless alveolar plosive (stop consonant made by stopping the airflow with your tongue and teeth)

• /ɛ/: near-low front unrounded vowel (like the "e" in "bet") - can also be /ə/ (schwa)

• /r/: voiced alveolar trill consonant (tongue vibrates against the ridge behind your upper front teeth)

• /i/: close front unrounded vowel (like the "ee" in "feet")

Word Form Variations

The word "monastery" has the following main word form variations:

• Singular: monastery (refers to one building or complex housing a religious community)

• Plural: monasteries (refers to multiple buildings or complexes housing religious communities)

• Adjective: monasterial (less common, describes something related to monasteries, e.g., monasterial life)

There are no other verb forms or conjugations for "monastery" as it refers to a physical location.
Lambaste is a verb, and for most verbs in English, there isn't a dedicated plural form. It remains the same for singular and plural subjects.

Here are the variations you'll encounter:

• Base form: lambaste (used for all tenses)

• Past tense: lambasted

• Present participle: lambasting (used for continuous tenses and gerunds)

• Past participle: lambasted (used for perfect tenses and passive voice)

There are no noun or adjective forms for "lambaste."

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun:

• A monastery is a building or complex of buildings that serves as a residence and place of worship for a community of monks living in seclusion from the secular world. (synonyms: abbey (for some monasteries), cloister, priory, hermitage; antonyms: secular building, public space)

• A monastery can also refer to the entire religious community that resides within it. (synonyms: monastic community, religious order)

Examples of Use

Books:

• "He entered the monastery, the silence pressing down on him like a physical weight." (Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose)

Newspapers:

• "Hundreds of pilgrims visit the ancient Tibetan monastery each year." (The New York Times)

Online Publications:

• "The restoration project aims to preserve the historic murals within the walls of the monastery." (National Geographic)

Entertainment Mediums:

• In the movie Kung Fu Panda, Po trains at the Jade Palace, which can be seen as a fictionalised monastery for panda warriors.

Platforms:

• "I'm taking a social media break and heading to a silent monastery retreat." (Social media post)

General Public Discourse:

• "Monasteries played a significant role in preserving knowledge during the Middle Ages." (Historical discussion)

• "I'd love to visit a monastery someday and experience the peaceful atmosphere." (Casual conversation)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Monastery

While there aren't many direct quotes featuring "monastery" itself, here are ten quotes that evoke the essence of monasteries or monastic life:

1. "The rule of silence is the first step in learning to speak well." - St. Benedict (founder of Western monasticism) (This quote reflects the emphasis on quiet contemplation in monasteries.)

2. "Keep silence of the monastery, for it is in silence that you will hear the voice of God." - The Rule of St. Benedict (This quote highlights the importance of silence for spiritual connection.)

3. "A monk is not made by the putting on of a garment, but by the mortification of the will." - St. Augustine (This quote emphasises the inner transformation sought by those entering monasteries.)

4. "My imagination is a monastery and I am its monk." - Delacroix (French Romantic painter) (This quote uses "monastery" metaphorically for a place of solitude and creativity.)

5. "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others." - Albert Schweitzer (Nobel Peace Prize winner who lived a life of service similar to some monastic traditions.)

6. "Simplicity is the essence of the monastic life." - Thomas Merton (American Trappist monk and author) (This quote captures a core principle of monastic living.)

7. "The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha (Though not strictly a monastery, Buddhist monasteries promote mindfulness and inner peace, similar to some Christian monastic traditions.)

8. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu (Though not a monastery, Taoist philosophy emphasises living in harmony with nature, a theme found in some monastic settings.)

9. "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X (This quote reflects the role some monasteries played in preserving knowledge throughout history.)

10. "I choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice. I refuse to let anyone or anything steal my happiness." - Dalai Lama (The emphasis on inner peace and control over one's thoughts aligns with the goals of some monastic traditions.)
    

Etymology

The word "monastery" comes from the ancient Greek word "monasterion," which literally means "a place to be alone."

• The root of the word is "monos," which means "alone." Think of someone being a "loner" - they like to be by themselves.

• Then they added "-terion" to the end, which means "a place for doing something." So, a monastery became a place specifically designed for people who wanted to live alone and devote themselves to religious practice.

The first known use of "monasterion" was actually by a Jewish philosopher way back in the 1st century AD! But the idea of monasteries really caught on with Christianity, where people would live together in these communities dedicated to prayer and meditation. Even though they weren't literally alone, they were separate from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Monastery

• Interestingly, there aren't many common phrases or idioms that directly use "monastery." However, here are some related expressions that capture the essence of monasteries:

  • Take a vow of silence: This refers to someone staying completely quiet, similar to the silence observed in some monasteries.

  • Live a monastic life: This describes someone living simply and with minimal possessions, similar to the way monks live.

  • Seek sanctuary: This means finding a place of refuge and safety, similar to how some people might view a monastery.

  • A hermitage of the soul: This is a more poetic way of describing someone finding solitude and inner peace, similar to the experience some seek in monasteries.

  • Monastery walls: This can be used metaphorically to describe anything that isolates or keeps someone separate from the outside world.

Posts Related to Monastery

Source Information

Definition of monastery from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved