motherhouse

English

noun
Definitions
  • The monastery from which the other 'houses' of a religious order or congregation were (directly or indirectly) founded, often eponymous.
  • The convent which is the seat (and often the above original foundation) of the superior of an order or congregation, and/or on which lower ranking houses (such as priories under an abbot) depend.

Etymology

Compound from English mother (fermented culture) + English house (a house, company).

Origin

English

house

Gloss

a house, company

Kanji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms