anchoress, ancress
(ˈæŋkərɪs, ˈæŋkrɪs)
Forms: 4–6 ankres, 5 -keras, -korasse, (angoras), 5–7 ancresse, 6 ankresse, -isse, anckres, anchorisse, 6–7 -esse, (9 arch. ancress, -kress), 7– anchoress.
[f. ancre, anchor n.2, with Fr. fem. ending -esse, -ess; cf. anchresse in Palsgr. 1530. In ME. ancre was used for both sexes. A rarer fem. was anchoritess.]
A female anchorite, a nun.
| 1393 Test. Ebor. IV. 186, Xijd. to the Ankres of Thurgransby, and vjd. to Alison hir mayden. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 308 To sytte upon a matte of the angoras. 1450 Myrc 1355 Yef ho were ankeras or nonne. 1549 Latimer 7 Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 127 Ladye faieth..is no Anckres, she dwells not alone. 1565 Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 280 The Reuelation of Dame Eue the Anchorisse. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xi. ix. 197 Ancresses that dwell, Mewed vp in walles. 1625 Fletcher Fair Maid iii. i, I will..wall up my girle, wife, like an anchoresse. c 1800 Wordsw. Misc. Sonn. xxi, There a saintly anchoress she dwelt. 1869 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace xxii. 251 This Lady Ancress, or Anchoress, being some worn-out old nun. 1876 Rock Text. Fabr. ii. 11 Ankresses are forbidden to make purses. |