Carthusian

Car·thu·sian
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US/kɑɹˈθuʒən/UK/kɑːˈθjuːzi.ən/UK/kɑːˈθjuːzɪən/

noun

A member of a Christian contemplative order of monks founded by Bruno of Cologne (St Bruno) in 1084.

OriginMedieval Latin Carthusianus ← Old French Chartrouse ← Late Latin Catorissium →
RareScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounCarthusian (plural Carthusians)

plural Carthusians

  1. A member of a Christian contemplative order of monks founded by Bruno of Cologne (St Bruno) in 1084.
  2. A pupil of Charterhouse School (founded in a Carthusian monastery)
adjectiveCarthusian (comparative more Carthusian, superlative most Carthusian)

comparative more Carthusian · superlative most Carthusian

  1. Of, or relating to this order.

Origin

  1. Gaulish*Katurīx
  2. Late LatinCatorissium
  3. Old FrenchChartrouse
  4. Medieval LatinCarthusianus
  5. EnglishCarthusian

From Medieval Latin Carthusianus, from Cart(h)usia, Latinization of Old French Chartrouse, a region near Grenoble where the order was founded, now Chartreuse; from Late Latin Catorissium, Cantourisa, Caturissium, Chatrousse, probably ultimately from Gaulish *Katurīx (literally “battle-king”). Also see Caturix, Helvetian war god.

More words from Medieval Latin, Old French, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan cartoixà, cartoixà
  • cartoixàmember of the Carthusian Order
  • cartoixàrelating to the Carthusian Order
French chartreux, cartusien
  • chartreuxmember of the Carthusian Order
  • cartusienrelating to the Carthusian Order
German Kartäuser, Kartäusermönch
  • Kartäusermember of the Carthusian Order
  • Kartäusermönchmember of the Carthusian Order
  • kartäusischrelating to the Carthusian Order
  • kartusianischrelating to the Carthusian Order
Hungarian karthauzi, karthauzi
  • karthauzimember of the Carthusian Order
  • karthauzirelating to the Carthusian Order
Italian certosino
  • certosinorelating to the Carthusian Order
Latin Cartusiānus, Cartusiēnsis
  • Cartusiānusmember of the Carthusian Order
  • Cartusiēnsisrelating to the Carthusian Order
Cite this entry
APA

Carthusian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carthusian

MLA

“Carthusian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carthusian. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Carthusian,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Carthusian.

Source: Carthusian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.