Urbanist

See also: urbanist

English

Etymology

From Urban +‎ -ist. In reference to Catholic nuns, from the promulgation of a separate rule of conduct by Pope Urban IV.

Noun

Urbanist (plural Urbanists)

1. (Catholicism) A Poor Clare who follows or advocates the use of revised codes of conduct in place of the original precepts established by Saint Clare.
   • 1759, Alban Butler, The Lives of the... Saints, volume IV, page 87:

     The chief house of the Clares in England stood near Aldgate; it was built by Blanche, queen of Navarre, and her husband Edmund, earl of Lancaster, Leicester and Darby, son to Henry III. and brother to Edward I. These nuns were Urbanists, and enjoyed revenues. They were called Clares or Minoresses, and their house the Minories...

2. Alternative form of Urbaniste (“variety of pear”)

Coordinate terms

• (nuns): Clarisse, Clarissine, Clarist