anchoress

plural anchoresses · alternative anchress

1. A female anchorite. A woman who chooses to withdraw from the world to live a solitary life of prayer and contemplation.

   … and advises the anchoresses to take on the basic religious vows …

   2003, Yōko Wada, “A Genre of Ancrene Wisse”, in A Companion to Ancrene Wisse, DS Brewer, →ISBN, page 39

   Synonyms: anchoritess

plural anchoresses

1. informalAn anchorwoman.

   Mr. Thompson reportedly booted executives off a cross-continental Citigroup flight to be alone with the impeccably brunette anchoress.

   2007 April 16, Max Abelson, “Sold! 'Money Honey,' Hubby Buy $6.5 M. East Side Townhouse”, in New York Observer, retrieved 25 Jan 2012

   1 more example

   Williams was co-hosting in place of Katie Couric, a move some have speculated was meant to deprive the possible next anchoress of the CBS Evening News the prime time exposure.

   2006 February 11, James Poniewozik, “Live from Turin—Sorry, Torino—It's NBC”, in Time, retrieved 25 Jan 2012