Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The character, condition, or profession of a monk; monasticism.
  • noun Monks considered as a group.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The character or condition of a monk.
  • noun Monks collectively.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The character or condition of a monk.
  • noun Monks, regarded collectively.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being a monk.
  • noun The monks collectively.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English monkehode

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Examples

  • In an interview before leaving the U.S., Mr. Sangay revealed that his father left the monkhood to join Tibetan guerrillas fighting Chinese troops who entered Tibet in 1950, and was shot in the leg while helping to provide security for the escaping Dalai Lama.

    Tibetan Exiles Swear In New Leader Jeremy Page 2011

  • I've never seen or heard any Buddhist advocate universal monkhood.

    A New Hope for Interstellar Travel? « L.E. Modesitt, Jr. – The Official Website 2009

  • Pongruengrong, who is also a popular singer, entered monkhood after being released on bail last month.

    Asia in Pictures 2012

  • Entering monkhood is a rite of passage for many boys, although most of them spend a few days to a few months—rather than a lifetime—as a monk.

    Photos of the Day: May 31 2011

  • In 1822, he was recognized and enthroned in the Potala Palace and in the same year, he took his novice vows of monkhood from the Panchen Lama, Tenpai Nyima who gave him the name Tsultrim Gyatso.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

  • He was escorted to Lhasa where he was ordained into monkhood by the Panchen Lama, Tenpai Wangchuk, and was given the name Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

  • In 1842, he was enthroned in the Potala Palace and at the age of eleven, he took the novice vows of monkhood from the Panchen Lama.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

  • When things settled down, the Fifth Dalai Lama was taken to Drepung monastery where he was ordained into monkhood by the Third Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chogyal, and was given the name Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

  • In 1860, at the age of five he took the novice vows of monkhood from the Gaden Throne Holder Lobsang Khenrab and he was enthroned in the Potala Palace.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

  • At the age of seven, he took the novice vows of monkhood from the Panchen Lama and then he was fully ordained in 1777.

    The Dalai Lamas 2010

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