priory
(ˈpraɪərɪ)
Also 3–6 priorie; β. 5–6 pryoure, priore.
[ME. priorie, a. Anglo-F. priorie (a 1240), med.L. priōria: see prior n. and -y. The form might also arise from OF. prioré, mod.F. prieuré:—L. priōrātus; but in Eng. priouré, prioré is of late occurrence.]
1. A monastery or nunnery governed by a prior or prioress; generally an offshoot of an abbey on which it was more or less dependent; also, a house of Canons Regular. alien priory: see alien a. 2.
Sometimes the name of a dwelling-house on the site of a priory.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 71/10 In þe priorie of wiricestre. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5599, & þoru [h]is conseil chirchen wide he let rere & abbeys & prioryes aboute her & þere. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VII. 475 The priory of Norton in the province of Chestre was founded this tyme by William sonne of Nigellus. a 1552 Leland Itin. III. 50 Here was a Priorie of Nunnes lately suppressed. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 6 The Churches which are given to them [priors] in Titulum, or by way of Title, are called Priories. 1806 Gazetteer Scotl. (ed. 2) 96/1 Coldstream..was anciently the seat of a priory or abbacy of the Cistertian order. 1845 E. M. Sewell Gertrude i, The modern Priory..had no connection with the old religious house except that of bearing the same designation. 1889 Jessopp Coming of Friars iii. 136 A priory was a monastery which in theory or in fact was subject to an abbey. |
| β c 1500 Melusine 210 Ye muste doo founde a Pryoure of twelue monkes, & the pryour, in suche place there as my lady shal ordeyne. 1530 Palsgr. 258 Priore, prioré. |
| attrib. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xiv. i. 642, I wel ought to knowe you.., al though I be in a pryory place. |
b. grand priory, a province, next below a ‘language’, of the order of the Knights of
St. John or of Malta, under the rule of a Grand Prior.
Cf. priorate 2,
quot. 1829, and
priorship,
quot. 1762.
| 1885 Cath. Dict. 413/2 The Hospitallers..After the order had attained its full development, it was divided into eight languages... Each language was divided into grand priories and bailiwicks, which again were subdivided into commanderies. |
2. = priorate 1,
priorship.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 443 After þe fifteenþe ȝere of his priourie Herlewyn abbot of Becco deide, and Anselme was i-made abbot in his stede. 1879 tr. Montalembert's Monks of West VII. 161 note, During the fifteen years of his priory. |
¶ 3. = priority.
Obs. rare.
| 1600 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1816) IV. 246/2 Anent þe priorie in places and voting ffor removeing of all sic occasionis of controverseis. |