Monk

A word of uncertain origin, probably from Greek monos (“alone”) through Latin monicus and Old English munuc. It denotes a member of a religious community living under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. It has never acquired a clear-cut technical sense, but its use is properly confined to groups in which community life is an integral element, and not extended to later developments, e.g., the Mendicant orders.