FRATRY Meaning and
Definition
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Fratry is a noun that refers to a room or area within a monastery or religious institution where meals are prepared and eaten by the resident monks or religious community. The term "fratry" originates from the Middle English word "fraterie," which ultimately comes from the Latin word "frater," meaning "brother."
In medieval times, monastic communities were self-sufficient, and the fratry played a central role in the daily life of the monastery. It served as a communal dining hall, functioning as a gathering place for the brethren to eat and socialize together. The fratry was also responsible for storing and distributing food, as well as cooking and preparing meals for the residents.
Typically located near the cloister, the fratry was often a large room with long wooden tables and benches where the monks sat to eat. Sometimes, the area would also include a separate kitchen for the preparation of meals. The design and layout of the fratry varied across different monastic communities, depending on the available space and resources.
Today, while the term "fratry" is mainly associated with monastic settings, it can also be used in a broader context to refer to any communal dining hall or eating area within religious institutions or similar communal living arrangements.
Common Misspellings for FRATRY
- dratry
- cratry
- vratry
- gratry
- tratry
- rratry
- featry
- fdatry
- ffatry
- ftatry
- f5atry
- f4atry
- frztry
- frstry
- frwtry
- frqtry
- frarry
- frafry
- fragry
- frayry
Etymology of FRATRY
The word "fratry" has its origins in the late 14th century Middle English language. It is derived from the Old French word "fraterie", which ultimately traces back to the Latin word "frater", meaning "brother". In medieval monastic communities, a fratry referred to the building or room in a monastery or abbey where the brethren or monks gathered to eat their meals together. The term was also used to describe the dining hall itself. Over time, the word "fratry" has fallen out of common usage and is now considered archaic.
