hegumen

[hi-gyoo-muh n]

noun Eastern Church.

the head of a monastery.

Also he·gu·me·nos

[hi-gyoo-muh-nos] /hɪˈgyu məˌnɒs/.

Origin of hegumen

1655–65; < Medieval Latin hēgūmenus < Greek hēgoúmenos chief, literally, leading, present participle of hēgeîsthai to lead

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hegumen

Historical Examples of hegumen

Eventually, though against my will, they raised me their Hegumen.
The Prince of India, Volume I
Lew. Wallace
As a teacher and example, how unlike this Hegumen was to Hilarion.
The Prince of India, Volume I
Lew. Wallace
"Thou art a good son, Sergius," the Hegumen said, with some cheer.
The Prince of India, Volume I
Lew. Wallace
The manner of the utterance, and the thought compelled the Hegumen's notice.
The Prince of India, Volume I
Lew. Wallace
Sergius, did the Hegumen tell you whence this calumny had origin?
The Prince of India, Volume II
Lew. Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for hegumen

hegumen

hegumenos (hɪˈɡjuːmɪˌnəʊs)

noun

the head of a monastery of the Eastern Church

Word Origin for hegumen

C16: from Medieval Latin hēgūmenus, from Late Greek hēgoumenos leader, from Greek hēgeisthai to lead

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