PRIORY

priory

(noun) religious residence in a monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

priory (plural priories)

A monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress.

Source: Wiktionary

Pri"o*ry, n.; pl. Priories. Etym: [Cf. LL. prioria. See Prior, n.]

Definition: A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; -- sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also cell, and obedience. See Cell, 2.

Note: Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot. Alien priory, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country.

Syn.

– See Cloister.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition