noun
- Plural of ancress; women who have withdrawn from the world to live in seclusion for religious devotion, typically in the Middle Ages.
Usage: archaic; historical; religious context
Examples
- Medieval ancresses lived in small cells attached to churches, dedicating their lives to prayer.
- The ancresses of the 12th century followed strict rules of silence and contemplation.
- Historical records document the spiritual practices of ancresses in England and France.
- Some ancresses received visitors only through a small window to offer spiritual counsel.