A member of a reformed Benedictine monastic order founded in 1098 at Cîteaux, France, emphasizing strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict, manual labor, and architectural simplicity.
From Medieval Latin 'Cistercium,' the Latin name for Cîteaux, the French abbey where the order was founded. The name comes from 'cisterna' (cistern) referring to the marshy location of the original monastery, reflecting the order's preference for remote, undeveloped locations.
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