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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
CLOISTER, n.
CLOISTER, v.t.
An inclosed place.
[Obs.]
Chaucer. A covered passage or ambulatory on one
side of a court;
(pl. A monastic establishment; a place for
retirement from the world for religious duties.
Fitter for a cloister than a crown. Cloister garth (Arch.), the garden or open part of a court inclosed by the cloisters. Syn. -- Cloister, Monastery, Nunnery, Convent, Abbey, Priory. Cloister and convent are generic terms, and denote a place of seclusion from the world for persons who devote their lives to religious purposes. They differ is that the distinctive idea of cloister is that of seclusion from the world, that of convent, community of living. Both terms denote houses for recluses of either sex. A cloister or convent for monks is called a monastery; for nuns, a nunnery. An abbey is a convent or monastic institution governed by an abbot or an abbess; a priory is one governed by a prior or a prioress, and is usually affiliated to an abbey. To confine in, or as in, a
cloister] to seclude from the world; to immure.
None among them are thought worthy to be styled
religious persons but those that cloister themselves up in
a monastery. | ||||||||