anchoress

enUK

an·cho·ress

A0285200 (ăng′kər-ĭs)n. A woman who has retired into seclusion for religious reasons.
[Middle English anchoryse, ankres, from ancre, anchorite, from Old English ancra, from Old Irish anchara, from Late Latin anachōrēta; see anchorite.]

an•cho•ress

(ˈæŋ kər ɪs)

n. a woman who is an anchorite. [1350–1400; Middle English ankres=ancre anchorite + -es -ess] usage: See -ess.