Monasteries are religious communities that are dedicated to a contemplative and ascetic lifestyle. There are various synonyms for the word monasteries, including cloisters, abbeys, priories, convents, friaries, and hermitages. A cloister is a covered walkway around a quadrangle, often found in medieval monasteries. An abbey is a monastery governed by an abbot or abbess, while a priory is a smaller monastery subordinate to an abbey. A convent refers to a community of nuns, while a friary is a monastery for non-cloistered male friars. Finally, a hermitage is a secluded dwelling usually occupied by a hermit, monk, or religious recluse. All of these synonyms reflect the rich history and diverse nature of monasticism.