a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 43 (MED) Ofte-timis it happins þat be þe ordinance of þe prioresse greuus sklaunders rysis in monesterys.
a1425 (Stonyhurst) f.42 Monasterium, a monastre or an abbeye.
c1425 in E. Edwards (1866) 134 (MED) Aftyr hys day go hyt in to the olde Monasterye [c1425 (OE) into ealden mynstere] of Wynchester.
1451 V. 221/1 Th' abbesse and covent of oure Monasterie of Saint Saviour.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 27 The monastery of Wynneburne [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. mynistre; L. monasterium].
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 129 The monastery of Seynte Hilda [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. abbay].
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine 386/1 What monaster is yonder that I see?
a1500 (?a1450) (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 364 Why purpose ye to distroye þis monestre?
1539 T. Pery Let. in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. II. 141 He sainge what a goode Crysten is yowre Kinge of Ynglande to pwte downe the Monesterys.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1895) II. 310 A certane monestar not far fra the place quhair tha lay.
c1610–15 Some Notes before Liues in C. Horstmann (1886) 21 By her example, many monasteries of Virgins and monks were founded at Rome.
a1660 Aphorismical Discov. in J. T. Gilbert (1879) I. 255 Captain Con Oneylle did guarde the monester of the fryers preachers of S. Dominicks Order.
1706 (new ed.) at Obituary A Calendar, or Register-Book, in which the Friers in a Monastery enter'd the Obits, or Obitual Days of their Founders and Benefactors.
1759 B. Martin I. 73 Its Church..was at first a Monastry.
1786 S. Turner Let. 6 Feb. in (1800) v. 424 The heads of every monastery throughout Tibet..appeared at Teshoo Loomboo, to celebrate this grand epocha in their political and theological history.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi, in 2nd Ser. I. 288 There arose that great tumult at the outward gate of the Monastery.
1841 M. Elphinstone I. ii. iv. 201 They have nothing of the freedom of the Hindú monastic orders..and seem never allowed to leave the monastery.
1865 A. Eden Rep. iii in 127 The villagers kept the Lamas of their Monastery well supplied with food.
1872 J. Yeats 143 Each monastery was a luminous point, whence the light of civilisation radiated into the darkness around.
1909 J. C. White xvii. 200 I visited the Karchu Monastery.
1928 W. B. Seabrook xiii. 251 The objective of our pilgrimage was a monastery of the Rufai, or Howling Dervishes..in the mountains between Hama and Aleppo.
1959 Jan. 21/1 The Zen Master, or Roshi, the spiritual head of the monastery.
1983 M. FitzHerbert v. 79 They took a boat to Mount Athos and spent a happy fortnight, staying at Monasteries.
2010 T. Ó'Carragáin vii. 218 From the Carolingian period onwards there was a greater contrast between Irish ecclesiastical sites and Continental monasteries.