monkish
Like a friar
Monkish describes qualities associated with monks—austere, solitary, contemplative, or ascetic.
The word often carries a slightly dismissive or critical tone, suggesting excessive withdrawal from worldly pleasures or social life: He lived a monkish existence in his one-room apartment, her monkish devotion to study.
State of being alone
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
- isolationComplete separation from others
- hermitageSecluded religious dwelling
- cloisteredSheltered from outside contact
sequestered · withdrawn · solitary · recluse · anchorite · eremitic · retreat · cell
Deliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- frugalityEconomical resource management
simplicity · temperance · restraint · mortification · penance · renunciation · self-abnegation · self-discipline
Focused attention practice
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- solitudeState of being alone
mindfulness · contemplation · prayer · vespers · matins · chanting · gregorian · devotions
Regular sequence of actions
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
regularity · ritual · structure · habit · tonsure · vows · schedule · bells
Monastery manuscript workshop
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- illuminationProvision of light
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- copyingReproducing something exactly
parchment · codex · library · theology · philosophy · Latin · treatise · chronicle
solitude
State of being alone
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
- isolationComplete separation from others
- hermitageSecluded religious dwelling
cloistered · sequestered · withdrawn · solitary · recluse · anchorite · eremitic · retreat · cell · enclosure
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
frugality · simplicity · temperance · restraint · mortification · penance · renunciation · self-abnegation · self-discipline · sobriety
meditation
Focused attention practice
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- silenceTotal lack of sound
solitude · mindfulness · contemplation · prayer · vespers · matins · chanting · gregorian · devotions · breviary
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
order · regularity · ritual · structure · habit · tonsure · vows · schedule · bells · canonical
scriptorium
Monastery manuscript workshop
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- illuminationProvision of light
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
copying · parchment · codex · library · theology · philosophy · Latin · treatise · chronicle · translation
monkishhedonistic
Devoted to sensual pursuits
indulgent · sybaritic · libertine · voluptuary · epicurean
monkishsociable
Inclined toward companionship
gregarious · convivial · outgoing · extroverted · social
monkishworldly
Experienced in practical affairs
secular · materialistic · earthly · mundane · sophisticated