Cenobite, from the Greek, [Greek:  koinos], common, and [Greek:  bios], life; applied to those living in monasteries.

Clerks Regular.  This is a title given to certain religious orders founded in the sixteenth century.  The principal societies are:  the Theatines, founded by Cajetan of Thiene, subsequently Pope Paul IV.; and Priests of the Oratory, instituted by Philip Neri, of Florence.  These two orders have been held in high repute, numbering among their members many men of rank and intellect.

Cloister, from the Latin, Claustra, that which closes or shuts, an inclosure; hence, a place of religious retirement, a monastery.

Hermit, or eremite, from the Greek, [Greek:  heremos], desolate, solitary.  One who dwells alone apart from society, or with but few companions.  Not used of those who dwell in cloisters.

Monastery, comes from the same source as monk.  Commonly applied to a house used exclusively by monks.  The term, however, strictly includes the abbey, the priory, the nunnery, the friary, and in this broad sense is synonymous with convent, which is from the Latin, convenire, to meet together.

Monk, from the Greek, [Greek:  mhonos], alone, single.  Originally, a man who retired from the world for religious meditation.  In later use, a member of a community.  It is used indiscriminately to denote all persons in monastic orders, in or out of the monasteries.

Nun, from nouna, i.e., chaste, holy.  “The word is probably of Coptic origin, and occurs as early as in Jerome.” (Schaff).

Regulars.  Until the tenth century it was not customary to regard the monks as a part of the clerical order.  Before that time they were known as religiosi or regulares.  Afterwards a distinction was made between parish priests, or secular clergy, and the monks, or regular clergy.

For more detailed information on these and other monastic words, see The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, and McClintock and Strong’s Encyclopedia.

NOTE B

The Pythagoreans are likened to the Jesuits probably on account of their submission to Pythagoras as Master, their love of learning and their austerities.  Like the Jesuits, the Pythagorean league entangled itself with politics and became the object of hatred and violence.  Its meeting-houses were everywhere sacked and burned.  As a philosophical school Pythagoreanism became extinct about the middle of the fourth century.

NOTE C

The Encyclopaedia Brittanica divides the monastic institutions into five classes: 

1.  Monks. 2.  Canons Regular. 3.  Military Orders. 4.  Friars. 5.  Clerks Regular.  All of these have communities of women, either actually affiliated to them, or formed on similar lines.