archimandrite

[ahr-kuh-man-drahyt]

noun Eastern Church.

the head of a monastery; an abbot.

a superior abbot, having charge of several monasteries.

a title given to distinguished celibate priests.

Origin of archimandrite

1585–95; < Late Latin archimandrīta < Late Greek archimandrī́tēs abbot, equivalent to Greek archi- archi- + Late Greek mándr(a) monastery (Greek: fold, enclosure) + -ītēs -ite¹

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Examples from the Web for archimandrite

Historical Examples of archimandrite

One of them was already a bishop, another an archimandrite and on the way to become a bishop.
The Forged Coupon and Other Stories
Leo Tolstoy
After waiting a little time, he fell to arousing p. 15the Archimandrite.
The Story of Tim
Anonymous
I had not realised till then that I was to sup with the Archimandrite himself.
Through the Land of the Serb
Mary Edith Durham
"Nikola, serve the rakija," said the Archimandrite a third time.
Through the Land of the Serb
Mary Edith Durham
The Archimandrite (Abbot) of Spazac, who had just arrived, came with us.
The Lady of the Shroud
Bram Stoker

British Dictionary definitions for archimandrite

archimandrite

noun

Greek Orthodox Church the head of a monastery or a group of monasteries

Word Origin for archimandrite

C16: from Late Latin archimandrīta, from Late Greek arkhimandritēs, from archi- + mandra monastery

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012