A variant or archaic spelling of anchorite; a religious recluse who has withdrawn from society to live in spiritual devotion.
From Greek 'anachoretes' (one who withdraws/retires), from 'anachorein' (to withdraw). The word came into English through ecclesiastical Latin, describing the earliest Christian monastics who withdrew to deserts and isolated locations for spiritual practice.
The concept of the anchoret emerged in the deserts of Egypt and Syria—these early Christian ascetics created the first monastic movement, proving that you don't need a building or community structure to inspire religious devotion and spiritual innovation!
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