hermit of st. augustine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Historical, Religious
Quick answer
What does “hermit of st. augustine” mean?
A member of the Order of Saint Augustine who lives a solitary, contemplative life separate from community.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of the Order of Saint Augustine who lives a solitary, contemplative life separate from community.
Specifically refers to a friar or monk belonging to the Augustinian religious order who follows a hermitical vocation, emphasizing solitude, prayer, and asceticism, often in contrast to the more common communal life of the order.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The term is equally rare in both varieties. Spelling of 'St.' (with period) is standard in both, though 'Saint' may be written out fully in formal contexts.
Connotations
Historical, scholarly, theological. Carries connotations of medieval monasticism, deep piety, and intentional withdrawal.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language. Encountered almost exclusively in academic texts on monastic history, Catholic theology, or biographies of saints.
Grammar
How to Use “hermit of st. augustine” in a Sentence
The [hermit of St. Augustine] + verb (lived/prayed/retreated).He became a [hermit of St. Augustine].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or theological contexts to describe a specific monastic vocation.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific term within Catholic ecclesiastical history and monastic orders.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hermit of st. augustine”
- Using it to refer to any hermit. Confusing it with a 'hermit crab'. Omitting the 'St.' before Augustine.
- Incorrect plural: 'hermit of St. Augustines' instead of 'hermits of St. Augustine'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A hermit of St. Augustine is specifically a member of the Order of Saint Augustine who follows its rule in solitude. A regular hermit has no necessary affiliation with a formal religious order.
Yes, though they are very rare. Some Augustinian friars may receive permission to live a hermitical life while remaining under obedience to the order.
A monk typically lives in a community (cenobitic life), while a hermit lives in solitude (eremitic life). A hermit of St. Augustine is a type of religious who is both (a member of an order and solitary).
St. Augustine of Hippo wrote a 'Rule' guiding religious community life. Later, some followers adapted this rule for solitary contemplative life, leading to the term.
A member of the Order of Saint Augustine who lives a solitary, contemplative life separate from community.
Hermit of st. augustine is usually formal, historical, religious in register.
Hermit of st. augustine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɜːmɪt əv sənt ˈɔːɡəstiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɝːmɪt əv seɪnt ˈɔːɡəˌstiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HERMIT who follows the rule of Saint AUGUSTINE. Think: 'He's a hermit, but with an Augustine routine.'
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS LIFE IS A JOURNEY INTO SOLITUDE; DEVOTION IS WITHDRAWAL.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'hermit of St. Augustine' primarily associated with?