Dictionary

nunnery en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈnʌn(ə)ɹi/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English nonnery, nonnerie, equivalent to nun + -ery. (brothel): Compare typologically Czech nevěstinec (< nevěstka < nevěsta).

Meanings

1. Any convent (religious community) or the buildings thereof.
2. Any convent (religious community) or the buildings thereof. ▸ The residence of a female religious community, a monastery or abbey for nuns.
   • Get thee to a nunnery, why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
3. (humorous, obsolete, slang) Synonym of brothel.
   • [To] some one Gentleman generally acquainted, they giue... free priuiledge thenceforward in theyr Nunnery, to procure them frequentance... 1593, Thomas Nashe, Christs Teares ouer Ierusalem, page 79:
   • To the antipapist Tudors nunnery was a slang term for a brothel. 1977, J.T. Shipley, In Praise of England, page 194:

Forms

Hypernyms

monastery

Relateds

nun · abbess · cloister · convent

Synonyms

brothel · ribat (residence of nuns) · convent · convent (residence of nuns)

Translations (34)

cmn 庵 (residence for nuns) · el μονή (residence for nuns) · eo monaĥinejo (residence for nuns) · ro mănăstire (de maici) (residence for nuns) · la coenobium (residence for nuns) · bg мето́х (residence for nuns) · la monastērium (residence for nuns) · fr couvent (residence for nuns) · ar دَيْر (residence for nuns) · de Nonnenkloster (residence for nuns) · ga clochar (residence for nuns) · cmn 庵堂 (residence for nuns) · ka მონასტერი (residence for nuns) · sv nunnekloster (residence for nuns) · pt convento (residence for nuns) · enm nonnerie (residence for nuns) · la conventus (residence for nuns) · ang wīfhīrēd (residence for nuns) · es convento (residence for nuns) · ar رَهْبَنَة نِسْوِيّ (residence for nuns) · hu zárda (residence for nuns) · ru же́нский монасты́рь (residence for nuns) · it convento (residence for nuns) · ang nunnmynster (residence for nuns) · ang nunnhīrēd (residence for nuns) · pl klasztor (żeński) (residence for nuns) · cmn 女修道院 (residence for nuns) · fi nunnaluostari (residence for nuns) · hu apácakolostor (residence for nuns) · mi whare none (residence for nuns) · nl nonnenklooster (residence for nuns) · cmn 尼姑庵 (residence for nuns) · non nunnusetr (residence for nuns) · mk же́нски ма́настир (residence for nuns)