canoness

Female chapter member

A canoness is a woman belonging to a religious community living under a rule less strict than that of nuns.

Historically, canonesses could hold private property and were not bound by perpetual vows, making the position attractive to unmarried noblewomen.

The term parallels canon, the male equivalent in religious orders.

vocation

abbess

Female monastic leader

prioressFemale monastic superior
sisterhoodBond among women
novitiateReligious training period

postulant · chapter · collegiate · benefice · consecrated · professed · veil · habit · scapular · celibacy

community

convent

Religious sisters' dwelling

abbeyMonastic house of worship
cloisterCovered monastic walkway
prioryLesser monastic house

refectory · dormitory · cell · choir · stall · foundation · endowment · seclusion · rule · constitutions

historical

medieval

Of the Middle Ages

AugustinianOf a fourth-century theologian
nobleTitled or virtuous
aristocraticOf hereditary nobility

Protestant · Lutheran · secular · landed · dowry · reformation · dissolution · Essen · feudal

Categories

religious womennun, sister, abbess, prioress, novice
monasticsmonk, nun, abbot, nuns, abbess
nunsnun, nuns, sister, sisters, convent
sacred womengoddess, priestess, saint, abbess, high priestess
monastic titlesabbot, abbess, prior, prioress, novice

Opposites

gender/sex in religious life

canonesscanon

Accepted authoritative works

monk · friar · brother · abbot · prior

religious vs. secular life

canonesslaywoman

Unordained female church member

noblewoman · housewife

type of religious vocation

canonessnun

Hebrew alphabet's fourteenth

hermit · anchoress · mendicant · Carmelite

Family

canon, canonical, canonize, canonization, canonized, canonically, canonicity, canonizes, noncanonical

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G