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infirmarian

infirmarian

1 9.9
A person who cares for sick people in a monastery
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈfɜrˌmɛəriən/
  • Archaic
: infirmario
  • "She said—and I quote," the impatient one answered as she drew herself up straighter and lowered her voice to the level of Mother Superior's, "Not only does it allow the infirmarian to be with the other sisters during recreation, but, more importantly, it's considered to be beneficial to your spiritual development."
  • sub-infirmarian

Examples

  • He handed these to Sister Clmence, the convent's infirmarian, who promptly dropped them on the slate floor.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • At that moment, upstairs in the supply room of the infirmary, a tall, gray-eyed novice wearing the black veil of the temporarily professed stood talking with the infirmarian.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • But when the infirmarian returned, Sister Helen did not mention what had happened.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "It's really quite simple, Sister," said the infirmarian.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You are overwrought, she told the infirmarian.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Sister Helen returned to the chair to finish her meditation and to wait for the infirmarian's return.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "I think she's getting better, Sister Anne," Sister Helen said one afternoon to the infirmarian.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • She placed the handkerchief back in her pocket and looked at the infirmarian who had come to stand at the foot of the bed.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "The infirmarian laughed.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The infirmarian carefully administered medicine to the sick residents of the monastery.

Synonyms

Hospitaller
vsinfirmarian
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A member of a religious order in the Middle Ages who cared for sick and poor during the Crusades

is tied to one monastery rather than serving across an order
hospitalman
vsinfirmarian
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who cares for sick people in a hospital by doing simple tasks

is the role within a religious institution rather than in a hospital

Surface Forms

infirmarian singular
infirmarians plural

Morphology

infirmarian = infirmary (transparent) = infirm + ary + an

Formed by the clearly recognizable place noun 'infirmary' plus a standard agent-forming suffix producing a person associated with that place.

Etymology

Infirmarian starts with infirm, which means 'not strong' and is the same root as infirmary, a place for the 'sick'. So an infirmarian is the person who looks after the sick, especially in a monastery.