Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MONK, n. [Gr. μοναχος, from μονος, W. môn, sole, separate; whence L. monachus; Sax. monec, munuc; Fr. moine; Arm. mannach; W. mynaç; Sans. muni.]

A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion. Monks usually live in monasteries, on entering which they take a vow to observe certain rules. Some however live as hermits in solitude, and others have lived a strolling life without any fixed residence. Encyc.