Monastery
a class of structures which arose in the Middle Ages to meet the requirements of the large number of monks that then existed. Records of abbeys as early as the 7th century show that the arrangements were similar then to those of the 12th century. There was, however, one entirely new element, the church, the largest and most important building, which regulated the position of all the rest. In N. climates the cloister was usually situated on the S. side of the church, for the sake of the sunshine and warmth. It was composed of an open courtyard, square or oblong in shape, surrounded by an open arcade, or covered way. The church formed the N. side, and on the E. side was situated the chapter house, with the monks' dormitory over it. The chapter house in the Cistercian monasteries was usually divided into three compartments by the pillars bearing the arches. The abbot's seat was opposite the entrance door, and a stone seat all round accommodated the monks. The sacristy is placed on the N. side of the chapter house, with a door from the church. A similar cell or "parlor" occupies the S. side; then comes a passage or "slype" leading from the cloister to the gardens, etc. Beyond this is the fratry or day room of the monks, a long vaulted apartment running S., ha having a row of columns in the center and open windows. and silver. In philology, a monosyllabic The S. side of the cloisters generally word or root, specifically, a monosyllabic root of the isolating class of languages.
In philosophy, a term first used by Giordano Bruno (1548-1600), and adopted in a slightly different sense and brought into prominence by Leibnitz (1648-1716).