monks
Cowled religious brothers
Monks is the plural of monk—men who have withdrawn from ordinary society to live under religious vows, typically in a monastery.
The term applies across traditions: Christian monks follow rules like those of St.
Benedict, while Buddhist monks may beg for alms.
The monks rose before dawn for prayer.
Monks often take vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience.
Deliberate food avoidance
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- frugalityEconomical resource management
- simplicityLack of complexity
renunciation · mortification · penance · solitude · hermit · anchorite · vow · poverty
Monastic house of worship
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- refectoryInstitutional dining room
- chapterhouseClergy's assembly room
- dormitoryStudent living building
scriptorium · priory · friary · hermitage · cell · garden · bell tower · enclosure
Address to deity
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vespersEvening devotional service
- matinsLiturgical dawn devotions
compline · lauds · incense · rosary · mass · psalms · hymns · genuflection
Settled regular tendency
- robeLong loose outer garment
- cowlHooded monastic garment
- hoodAttached head covering
- tonsureRitual scalp shaving
cassock · scapular · cincture · sandals · saffron · ochre · brown · black
Kinship among men
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- fraternitySpirit of brotherly connection
brethren · chapter · novice · abbot · prior · friars · cenobites · sangha
Monastery manuscript workshop
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- illuminationProvision of light
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- copyingReproducing something exactly
preservation · translation · library · chronicle · theology · scripture · exegesis · learning
Follower of Gautama's teachings
- BenedictineMonk following ancient rule
- FranciscanMendicant order member
- TrappistMonk of austere order
- DominicanPreaching order member
Augustinian · Tibetan · Zen · Shaolin · Coptic · Carmelite · Jesuit · Theravada
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- frugalityEconomical resource management
simplicity · renunciation · mortification · penance · solitude · hermit · anchorite · vow · poverty · celibacy
abbey
Monastic house of worship
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- refectoryInstitutional dining room
- chapterhouseClergy's assembly room
dormitory · scriptorium · priory · friary · hermitage · cell · garden · bell tower · enclosure · courtyard
prayer
Address to deity
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vespersEvening devotional service
matins · compline · lauds · incense · rosary · mass · psalms · hymns · genuflection · prostration
habit
Settled regular tendency
tonsure · cassock · scapular · cincture · sandals · saffron · ochre · brown · black · white
brotherhood
Kinship among men
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
fraternity · brethren · chapter · novice · abbot · prior · friars · cenobites · sangha · disciples
scriptorium
Monastery manuscript workshop
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- illuminationProvision of light
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
copying · preservation · translation · library · chronicle · theology · scripture · exegesis · learning · brewing
Buddhist
Follower of Gautama's teachings
- BenedictineMonk following ancient rule
- FranciscanMendicant order member
- TrappistMonk of austere order
Dominican · Augustinian · Tibetan · Zen · Shaolin · Coptic · Carmelite · Jesuit · Theravada · Hindu
- Middle AgesMiddle Ages, medieval period, castles, knights, Dark Ages
- monasticismabbeys, abbey, abbots, abbot, cloister
- Catholic monasticismabbeys, abbots, abbesses, brothers, sisters
- Medieval Cultureroyal courts, troubadours, minstrels, feudal lords, courtly love
- Medieval Groupsknights, crusaders, Templars, Teutonic Knights, Normans
- monasteriesabbey, abbeys, abbot, abbots, abbess
monksmarried clergy
Clergy permitted matrimony
laypeople · laity · family men · householders · parishioners
monksparish priests
Local church leaders
friars · missionaries · chaplains · deacons
monkshedonists
Pursuers of sensual delight
libertines · sybarites · sensualists · materialists · pleasure-seekers
- Buddhist monasteryResidential religious community, Eastern
- Tibetan monkBuddhist cleric from Himalayas
- Buddhist monkOrdained follower of Buddha
- warrior monksReligious fighters in orders
- monastic lifeReligious community living
- medieval monastery
monk, monastery, monastic, monkish, monasticism, monkhood, monastics