friary

[ frahy-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural fri·ar·ies.

1. a monastery of friars, especially those of a mendicant order.
2. a brotherhood of friars.

friary

/ ˈfraɪərɪ /

noun

1. Christianity a convent or house of friars

Word History and Origins

Origin of friary¹

1300–50; late Middle English freyry, frayry, Middle English frari < Anglo-French, Old French frairie, frarie; friar, -y ³

Example Sentences

Most of the dead were buried in town cemeteries or plague pits such as one on Bene't Street next to the former friary.

From Science Daily

The city council and University of Leicester archaeologists excavated the site which had been a friary until its demolition in 1538.

From BBC

By the mid-20th Century, what had once been a religious friary had become a site for a school, council offices and a car park.

From BBC

Old Hall, which dates back to the 16th Century, was a convent, an army barracks and a friary before it was bought in 1974 by 14 families who formed the community.

From BBC

The difference may be due to monks manuring crops in friary gardens with their own faeces, the study suggests.

From BBC

Related Words

• nunnery