laura

See also: Laura and Laurą

English

A laura (cluster of caves for hermits)

Alternative forms

• lavra

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːɹə

Noun

laura (plural lauras or laurae)

1. (historical, Roman Catholicism) 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”, in 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.

Translations

cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the centre

• German: Laura (de) f, Laure f, Lavra f, Lawra f
• Italian: laura f, lavra f
• Polish: ławra (pl) f

large male monastery

• German: Laura (de) f, Laure f, Lavra f, Lawra f
• Italian: laura f, lavra f
• Polish: ławra (pl) f

Anagrams

• aural

Basque

Adjective

laura

1. allative inanimate singular of lau

Noun

laura

1. allative singular of lau

Numeral

laura

1. allative singular of lau

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɔ.ʁa/

Verb

laura

1. third-person singular past historic of laurer

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈlau̯.ra/, [ˈɫ̪äu̯rä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈlau̯.ra/, [ˈläːu̯rä]

Etymology 1

laura flōrēns

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

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 noun.

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 noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	laura	laurae
Genitive	laurae	laurārum
Dative	laurae	laurīs
Accusative	lauram	laurās
Ablative	laurā	laurīs
Vocative	laura	laurae

Descendants

• → English: laura
• → Italian: laura
• → Sicilian: laura

References

• laura in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “Laura” on page 404 of Domenico Magri’s Hierolexicon, ſive Sacrum Dictionarium (editio omnium recentissima, augmented by Stefano Sciugliaga, 1765)