Word
convent
Phoneticscon·vent
US/ˈkɑnˌvɛnt/
UK/kˈɒnvənt/
Definitions
01religious community
n. a group of religious women, such as nuns, who live together and follow strict rules.
n. a community of religious persons, specifically nuns, who live under a common rule and religious vows.
“She decided to leave her home and join a convent to dedicate her life to prayer.”
“The convent was known for its strict adherence to silence and its commitment to providing medical care for the local poor.”
02religious building
n. the building or house where a community of nuns lives.
n. the physical structure and grounds occupied by a religious community of nuns.
“The old convent had high stone walls and a beautiful garden in the center.”
“Architectural historians visited the medieval convent to study the unique vaulted ceilings of the chapel and the living quarters.”
03Christian school
n. a school run by a Christian organization, often for girls.
n. a school, typically for girls, managed by a Christian religious order.
“Many children in the city attend the local convent for their primary education.”
“The convent school maintained a reputation for academic excellence and disciplined character building throughout the region.”
Dialect
Usage
This sense is primarily used in Indian English.
Teaching tip
In Indian English, 'convent' often refers to the school itself rather than the residence of nuns.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English convent, variant of covent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventus, perfect participle of the verb convenio (whence ultimately convene), see con- + venio. Doublet of coven.
From Latin convenio (past participle conventus), whence also convene; so of the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.