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Glite Dictionary
Austin Friars

Austin Friars

9.9
Religious men who follow St Augustine's rule and often work in towns
  • noun
translation icon : agustinianos
  • The Austin Friars played a significant role in education during the Middle Ages.

Examples

  • During the Reformation, the Austin Friars were forced to disband in England.

  • The Austin Friars established several important houses across medieval Europe.

  • Some old churches in London were once run by Austin Friars.

  • Many Austin Friars dedicated their lives to helping the poor.

  • During the Reformation, the Austin Friars were forced to disband in England.

  • The Austin Friars established several important houses across medieval Europe.

  • Many Austin Friars dedicated their lives to helping the poor.

Synonyms

Augustinian
vsAustin Friars
1 9.9

A Catholic monk or friar who follows the Rule of Saint Augustine

is the historical name for the same monastic group

Surface Forms

Austin Friars plural

Morphology

Austin + friar

The head 'friar' clearly signals a member of a religious order, so learners will know it's some kind of friar; however 'Austin' is a proper name and not transparently recognizable as deriving from St Augustine or meaning 'Augustinian'. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words might guess these are friars associated with a person or place called Austin but would not predict the specific Augustinian affiliation without prior exposure.

Etymology

Austin Friars comes from St. Augustine: in old English Austin was a short form of 'Augustine', and friars were brothers who lived together and helped people. So Austin Friars means 'members of the religious order of St. Augustine'.