convent

From Middle English convent, variant of covent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventus, perfect participle of the verb convenio (whence ultimately convene), see con- + venio. Doublet of coven.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.vɛnt/, /ˈkɒn.vənt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑn.vɛnt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: con‧vent

convent (plural convents)

1. A religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.
2. The buildings and pertaining surroundings in which such a community lives.
   • 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     One seldom finds in Italy a spot of ground more agreeable than ordinary that is not covered with a convent.

3. (now especially) Synonym of nunnery, a female religious community and its residence.
4. (India) A Christian school.
5. A gathering of people lasting several days for the purpose of discussing or working on topics previously selected.
6. A coming together; a meeting.
   • 1609, Ben Jonson, The Masque of Queens:

     ...an usual ceremony at their [the witches'] convents or meetings...

• (religious community): monastery (chiefly male), nunnery (chiefly female), ribat (Sufi or Islamic and female)

• convent school

From Latin convenio (past participle conventus), whence also convene; so of the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1.

• IPA^(key): /kənˈvɛnt/
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

convent (third-person singular simple present convents, present participle conventing, simple past and past participle convented)

1. (obsolete) To call before a judge or judicature; to summon; to convene.
   • 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], line 52:

     Tomorrow morning to the Council board
     He be convented.

2. (obsolete) To meet together; to concur.
   • 1613–1614, William Shakespeare, John Fletcher, “The Two Noble Kinsmen.”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     We convent nought else but woes

3. (obsolete) To be convenient; to serve.
   • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], line 379:

     When that is known and golden time convents.

• convnet

Inherited from Latin conventus.

• IPA^(key): (Central) [kumˈben]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Valencian) [koɱˈvent]

convent m (plural convents)

1. convent (building)

From Middle Dutch convent, from Old French convent, from Latin conventus.

• IPA^(key): /kɔnˈvɛnt/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: con‧vent
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

convent n (plural conventen)

1. (Christianity) convent, monastery

   Synonym: klooster

2. (obsolete) meeting, gathering, convention

• conventikel

Borrowed from Latin conventus. See also the doublet couvent.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.vɑ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

convent m (plural convents)

1. (archaic, rare) convent, nunnery

• convention

• “convent”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

convent

1. (Late Middle English) Alternative form of covent