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couvent

convent, monastery

noun koo-VAHN Less Common
People & Society Religion

Usage Note

Couvent covers both convents (for nuns) and monasteries (for monks) in French, with context or an added word clarifying which. Entrer au couvent means 'to enter religious life.' Note the final 't' is silent. The related verb couver means 'to brood' or 'to hatch,' but the two words are unrelated in origin.

Examples

"Le couvent date du treizième siècle."

Natural Translation

The convent dates from the thirteenth century.

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