convent

plural convents

1. A religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.

   Near-synonym: abbey

   1 more example

   My God! It's enough to drive a girl into a convent! Do they have Jewish nuns?

   1972, Jay Presson Allen, Cabaret, spoken by Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli)

   Synonyms: abbey

2. The buildings and pertaining surroundings in which such a community lives.

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

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1. especiallySynonym of nunnery, a female religious community and its residence.

      Synonyms: nunnery

3. IndiaA Christian school.
4. A gathering of people lasting several days for the purpose of discussing or working on topics previously selected.
5. A coming together; a meeting.

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

   1609, Ben Jonson, The Masque of Queens

present singular third person convents · participle present conventing · participle past convented · past convented

1. obsoleteTo call before a judge or judicature; to summon; to convene.

   Tomorrow morning to the Council board He be convented.

   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

2. obsoleteTo meet together; to concur.

   We convent nought else but woes

   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)

3. obsoleteTo be convenient; to serve.

   When that is known and golden time convents.

   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

1. A census-designated place, the parish seat of St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States.