cellarer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Obsolete/Historical)Historical, Literary, Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “cellarer” mean?
The person in charge of a monastery's cellar, provisions and stores.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The person in charge of a monastery's cellar, provisions and stores.
Historically, a monastic official responsible for provisioning food, drink, and fuel; occasionally used metaphorically for any steward or manager of supplies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference; equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes medieval monastic life, historical novels, or fantasy settings (e.g., Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings').
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern use; encountered almost exclusively in historical texts or deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “cellarer” in a Sentence
(the) + cellarer + of + (Monastery Name/Institution)to be appointed + cellarerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical/religious studies contexts discussing medieval monastic organization.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not a modern technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cellarer”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cellarer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cellarer”
- Misspelling as 'cellarar' or 'cellaror'.
- Using it to refer to a modern wine cellar manager (anachronistic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic, historical term with very limited modern use outside of specific historical or literary contexts.
Technically, it could be understood, but it would be a deliberate archaism. Modern terms like 'cellar master', 'sommelier', or 'wine steward' are standard.
It comes from Middle English 'cellerer', from Anglo-Norman French, based on Latin 'cellarium' (storeroom), from 'cella' (storeroom, cell).
Historically, the role was typically male, but in modern historical fiction or discussion, 'cellarer' can be used for any gender. There is no distinct feminine form.
The person in charge of a monastery's cellar, provisions and stores.
Cellarer is usually historical, literary, ecclesiastical in register.
Cellarer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈselərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈselərər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Drunk as a cellarer's barrel (rare/archaic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CELLAR-er' – the person who runs the CELLAR of a monastery.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STEWARD IS A RESOURCE GUARDIAN.
Practice
Quiz
In what context would you most likely encounter the word 'cellarer'?