Anchorite

views updated May 29 2018

Anchorite, Anchoress. (Gk., anachōreō, ‘withdraw’). One who withdraws from the world in order to offer prayer and mortification, frequently understood in sacrificial terms. Anchorites are precursors of the development of monasticism, and are related to the hermits who are attached to monastic orders (e.g. among Camaldolese or Carthusians). The term became more strictly applied to those who live in a cell (restricted dwelling-place). In the later M. Ages, such cells were sometimes attached to parish churches. Julian of Norwich is (thought to be) a notable example.

anchorite

views updated Jun 27 2018

anchorite, anchoret religious recluse occupying a cell. XV. — medL. an(a)chorīta, -rēta — ecclGr. anakhōrētḗs, f. anakhōreín retire, retreat, f. aná back, ANA- + khṓrā, khôros space, place. Superseded earlier †anchor (OE. — OIr. anchara, shortened — medL. anachorēta), whence anchoress, ancress XIV. anchor-hold (see HOLD2) anchorite's cell XVII.

anchorite

views updated May 21 2018

an·cho·rite / ˈangkəˌrīt/ • n. hist. a religious recluse.DERIVATIVES: an·cho·rit·ic / ˌangkəˈritik/ adj.

anchorite

views updated Jun 11 2018

anchorite a religious recluse; the name comes (in Middle English via Latin) from ecclesiastical Greek, from anakhōrein ‘retire’.

About this article

Anchorite

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic