hegumen

noun

he·​gu·​men

hə̇ˈgyümə̇n

plural -s

: the head of a religious community (as a small monastery) in the Eastern Church

—used also as a title of honor for certain monks who are priests compare archimandrite

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin hegumenus, from Late Greek hēgoumenos, from Greek hēgoumenos leader, president, from present participle of hēgeisthai to lead

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!