coenobite

American  

[see-nuh-bahyt, sen-uh-] / ˈsi nəˌbaɪt, ˈsɛn ə- /

noun

1. cenobite.

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coenobite British  

/ ˈsiːnəʊˌbaɪt, ˌsiːnəʊˈbɪtɪk /

noun

1. a member of a religious order following a communal rule of life Compare eremite

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Other Word Forms

• coenobitic adjective
• coenobitical adjective
• coenobitism noun

Etymology

Origin of coenobite

C17: from Old French or ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek koinobion convent, from koinos common + bios life

Example Sentences

As it was; a customary show of respect to a dearly-departed coenobite, a pure woman was chosen to be entombed with the body.

From Scorched Earth by Petrovic, Walter D.

It is significant that Christian monasticism and the coenobite life began in Egypt, where, as we learn from papyri found in recent years, great monasteries of Serapis existed long before our era.

From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by Glover, T. R. (Terrot Reaveley)

Manguino asked that question of each coenobite at Halls, from the Cardinals that ranked just beneath him, to the novices and children training in the monastery.

From Scorched Earth by Petrovic, Walter D.

For a time he tasted the life of the anchorite and the coenobite.

From The Church and the Barbarians Being an Outline of the History of the Church from A.D. 461 to A.D. 1003 by Hutton, William Holden

O Coenobite, O coenobite, Monastical gregarian, You differ from the anchorite, That solitudinarian: With vollied prayers you wound Old Nick; With dropping shots he makes him sick.

From The Devil's Dictionary by Bierce, Ambrose