monkery

(countable, dated, derogatory, often, uncountable)(dated, often derogatory) The practices of monks; the way of life, behavior, etc. characteristic of monks; monastic life.

(countable, dated, derogatory, uncountable)Monasticism.

(countable, dated, derogatory, humorous, often, uncountable)(dated, often derogatory or humorous) A monastery.

Polite society won't have the truth. You've got to feed it on lies, or go into a monkery — if that's what they call a masculine nunnery. Don't want to go into a monkery, so I lie. Reluctantly, delicately, frequently.

MRS. B. Yes; and we are going to have it [ice cream] served on gold plates, too. BREW. Holy smoke, my house a monkery, and a gold-plated monkery at that. Now, you see here, all of you; I give you fair notice that I don't propose to have any more dances or parties or anything else after this one.

(collective, countable, dated, uncountable)(dated, collectively) Monks, considered as a group. (Compare clergy, laity.)

And furthermore, so long as they do entangle and bind themselves with so many and so perverse and wicked kinds of worshipping as the monkery now-a-days doth contain in it, I may well say that they are not consecrated unto God, […]

The close ties existing between the monkery and the aristocracy were evident in many cloisters. Superior Stefan, who was expelled from Pechera Monastery, immediately secured the support of many boyars who "gave him from their estates what he needed for himself and for other purposes."