convent

A religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.

Noun

  1. A religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.
    • Near-synonym: abbey
    • My God! It's enough to drive a girl into a convent! Do they have Jewish nuns? - 1972, Jay Presson Allen, Cabaret, spoken by Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli):

    Synonyms: abbey

    Hypernyms: community

  2. The buildings and pertaining surroundings in which such a community lives.
    • One seldom finds in Italy a spot of ground more agreeable than ordinary that is not covered with a convent. - 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […]...

    Hypernyms: residence home

    1. (now especially) Synonym of nunnery, a female religious community and its residence.

      Synonyms: nunnery

      Hypernyms: residence home

  3. A Christian school.
  4. A gathering of people lasting several days for the purpose of discussing or working on topics previously selected.
  5. A coming together; a meeting.
    • ...an usual ceremony at their [the witches'] convents or meetings... - 1609, Ben Jonson, The Masque of Queens:

Origin

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.

Forms

convents

Related

convenance convene convenient conventicle convention covenant Covent Garden covin commune rectory seminary

Derived

convent school Convent Station

Verb

  1. To call before a judge or judicature; to summon; to convene.
    • Tomorrow morning to the Council board He be convented. - 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies,...
  2. To meet together; to concur.
    • We convent nought else but woes - 1613–1614, William Shakespeare, John Fletcher, “The Two Noble Kinsmen”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679,...
  3. To be convenient; to serve.
    • When that is known and golden time convents. - c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London:...

Origin

From Latin convenio (past participle conventus), whence also convene; so of the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1.

Forms

convents conventing convented