Nuns

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /nʌnz/

Definitions

1. A collective of women devoted to spiritual service, typically residing in a communal setting, who focus on prayer and charitable activities
2. Women who have committed themselves to a religious vocation, often characterized by communal living and a life of service focused on spiritual devotion
3. Women who have dedicated their lives to religious service, often living in convents and engaging in prayer and charitable work

Etymology: "Nuns" is the plural of "nun", and the singular has an unexpectedly humble start. In Old English-era usage, the masculine form "nonnus" (meaning "man") and its feminine partner were terms of address for elderly people, and the word may be reminiscent of baby-talk forms like "nana" and "papa". Over time it narrowed from any elderly woman to a woman devoted to religious life, which is the sense the plural now carries. The word's path into English runs through Old French "nonne", which came from Late Latin "nonna", itself a form related to the Latin word for grandmother. English adopted the religious sense through that French route, and the plural simply adds the usual "-s" to mark more than one.

Synonyms: sisters, cloistered women, religious women, female monks, convent members