Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

anchoress

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.15 in modern English

Syllables: an-choress
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

noun

An anchorwoman.

Informal

Example Sentences

"… and advises the anchoresses to take on the basic religious vows …"
"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."
"Mr. Thompson reportedly booted executives off a cross-continental Citigroup flight to be alone with the impeccably brunette anchoress."

Etymology

From Middle English ankres, ankerisse, anchoryse; equivalent to anchor + -ess.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: ankres
Suffix: anchor

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

anchoresses (plural) anchress (alternative)

Synonyms

anchoritess

Questions

What does anchoress mean?: A female anchorite. A woman who chooses to withdraw from the world to live a solitary life of prayer and contemplation.
Where does anchoress come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce anchoress

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