Forms: 4–6 ankres, 5 -keras, -korasse, (angoras), 5–7 ancresse, 6 ankresse, -isse, anckres, anchorisse, 6–7 -esse, (9 arch. ancress, -kregs), 7– anchoress. [f. ancre, ANCHOR sb.2, with Fr. fem. ending -esse, -ess; cf. anchresse in Palsgr., 1530. In ME. ancre was used for both sexes. A rarer fem. was ANCHORITESS.] A female anchoret, a nun.
1393. Test. Ebor., IV. 186. Xijd. to the Ankres of Thurgransby, and vjd. to Alison hir mayden.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 308. To sytte upon a matte of the angoras.
a. 1450. Myrc, 1355. Yef ho were ankeras or nonne.
1549. Latimer, 7 Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 127. Ladye faieth … is no Anckres, she dwells not alone.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 280. The Reuelation of Dame Eue the Anchorisse.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XI. ix. 197. Ancresses that dwell, Mewed vp in walles.
1625. Fletcher, Fair Maid, III. i. I will … wall up my girle, wife, like an anchoresse.
c. 1800. Wordsw., Misc. Sonn., xxi. There a saintly anchoress she dwelt.
1869. Mrs. Palliser, Hist. Lace, xxii. 251. This Lady Ancress, or Anchoress, being some worn-out old nun.
1876. Rock, Text. Fabr., ii. 11. Ankresses are forbidden to make purses.
