con|vent

con|vent¹ «KON vehnt», noun.

1. a group of nuns or other persons dedicated to a religious life, living together according to fixed rules and under religious vows. A convent is in the charge of a superior.

2. the building or buildings in which they live. SYNONYM(S): cloister, abbey.

╂[< Anglo-French covent, Old French convent < Latin conventus, -ūs assembly < convenīre; see etym. under convene (Cf. ↑convene)]

Usage Convent formerly meant a community of monks, friars, or nuns, but is now used chiefly of nuns.

con|vent² «kon VEHNT», transitive verb, intransitive verb.

Obsolete. convene.

╂[< Latin conventus, past participle of convenīre; see etym. under convene (Cf. ↑convene)]