laura

See also: Laura

English

A laura (cluster of caves for hermits)

Alternative forms

• lavra

Etymology

From the Late Latin laura, from Ancient Greek the λαύρα (laúra, “lane, path”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɔɹə/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɔːɹə/
• Rhymes: -ɔːrə

Noun

laura (plural lauras or laurae)

1. (historical, Roman Catholic Church) A number of hermitages or cells in the same neighborhood occupied by anchorites who were under the same superior
   • 1864, Charles Kingsley, Lecture IX: The Monk a Civilizer, The Roman and the Teuton: A Series of Lectures Delivered Before the University of Cambridge, page 240,

     The solitaries of the Thebaid found that they became selfish wild beasts, or went mad, if they remained alone; and they formed themselves into lauras, 'lanes' of huts, convents, under a common abbot or father.

2. (historical, Eastern Orthodox Church) A cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre.
   • 1966, E. C. Butler, Chapter XVIII: Monasticism, H. M. Gwatkin, J. P. Whitney (editors), The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume 1, page 529,

     There were the cenobia, or monasteries proper, where the life was according to the lines laid down by St Basil; and there were the lauras, wherein a semi-eremitical life was followed, the monks living in separate huts within the enclosure.

Anagrams

• aural

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Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈlau̯.ra/, [ˈɫau̯.ra]

Etymology 1

laura flōrēns

Noun

laura f (genitive laurae); first declension

1. Egyptian rue (Ruta angustifolia)
   • (Can we find and add a quotation of Apuleius to this entry?)

Declension

First declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	laura	laurae
genitive	laurae	laurārum
dative	laurae	laurīs
accusative	lauram	laurās
ablative	laurā	laurīs
vocative	laura	laurae

References

• laura in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette, page 894/1

Etymology 2

From the Ancient Greek λαύρα (laúra).

Noun

laura f (genitive laurae); first declension

1. (Late Latin) monastery, convent, laura

Declension

First declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	laura	laurae
genitive	laurae	laurārum
dative	laurae	laurīs
accusative	lauram	laurās
ablative	laurā	laurīs
vocative	laura	laurae

Descendants

• English: laura

References

• laura in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• “Laura” on page 404 of Domenico Magri’s Hierolexicon, ſive Sacrum Dictionarium (editio omnium recentissima, augmented by Stefano Sciugliaga, 1765)