Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Cloister”

Date: August 24, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster

Main Theme

This episode focuses on the word “cloister,” exploring both its verb and noun forms, usage in contemporary language, and its etymological roots. Listeners gain not just the definition, but also insight into the word’s historical evolution and modern context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Usage

• Word: Cloister (verb)
• Spelling: C-L-O-I-S-T-E-R
• Meaning: “To cloister someone or something is to shut the person or thing away from the world.” (00:27)
• Example in a Sentence:
  • Quoting Florida Today:
    • “My constitution is such that I'm not going to retire, and what I said is I'm going to cloister myself and write a book and then we'll see what happens,” Nelson, who is now 82, told reporters Wednesday during a roundtable discussion at the Kennedy Space Center press site. (00:56)

2. Historical and Grammatical Notes

• First Usage as a Noun: Entered English in the 13th century; refers to a convent or monastery, a usage still relevant today. (01:26)
• Transition to Verb: Over 300 years later, “cloister” began to be used as a verb, meaning to seclude someone or something in or as if in a cloister. (01:42)
• Additional Noun and Adjective Meanings:
  • The noun can also signify “monastic life” or architecturally, a “covered and usually arched passage along or around a court.” (01:50)
  • The adjective “cloistered” means “separated from the rest of the world, as if in a cloister.” Example usage: “She leads a private cloistered life in the country.” (01:56)

3. Etymology & Related Words

• Origin: From Latin claudere meaning “to close.” (02:04)
• Related Words:
  • Close, conclude, exclude, include, preclude, seclude, recluse — all stemming from the same Latin root. (02:06)

4. Closing Note

• The episode is signed off by Peter Sokolowski as your Word of the Day guide. (02:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Sokolowski, explaining usage:

  “To cloister someone or something is to shut the person or thing away from the world.” (00:27)

• Quoting Florida Today (Bill Nelson):

  “My constitution is such that I'm not going to retire, and what I said is I'm going to cloister myself and write a book and then we'll see what happens.” (00:56)

• Etymology connection:

  “Cloister ultimately comes from the Latin verb claudere, meaning to close.” (02:04)

• Adjective usage:

  “She leads a private cloistered life in the country.” (01:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:27 – Definition, spelling, and primary usage
• 00:56 – Example sentence featuring the verb
• 01:26 – Discussion of noun usage and historical context
• 01:42 – Shift to verb form in English
• 01:50 – Expanded noun and adjective meanings with examples
• 02:04 – Etymology and related words
• 02:12 – Episode sign-off

Summary

This short but rich episode of Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day illuminates the word “cloister”—its meaning as both noun and verb, its historical journey from Latin, its usage in modern English, and the family of related words stemming from the same ancient root. Peter Sokolowski’s explanations and illustrative examples make the concept accessible, memorable, and rooted in both everyday and historical language.