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anchoritism

 - 2 dictionary results

an⋅cho⋅rite

  [ang-kuh-rahyt]
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–noun
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion; hermit.
Also, anchoret.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME anc(h)orite, conflation of ME ancre (OE ancra, ancer) and OF anacorite or ML anachōrīta < LGk anachōrēts, equiv. to Gk anachōrē-, s. of anachōreîn to withdraw (ana- ana- + chōreîn to give way, v. deriv. of chôros space) + -tēs agent suffix; OE forms < OIr *ancharae < LL anachōrēta < LGk

Related forms:
an⋅cho⋅rit⋅ic  [ang-kuh-rit-ik] , adjective
an⋅cho⋅rit⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
an⋅cho⋅rit⋅ism  [ang-kuh-rahy-tiz-uhm] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

anchorite 
c.1433, "hermit, recluse, one who withdraws from the world for religious reasons" (especially those of the Eastern deserts), from M.L. anchorita, from Gk. anakhoretes, lit. "one who has retired," agent noun from anakhorein "to retreat," from ana- "back" + khorein "withdraw, give place," from khoros "place, space."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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