[ad. med.L. archimandrīta, ad. late Gr. ἀρχιμανδρίτης, f. ἀρχι- (see ARCHI-) + μάνδρα an enclosed space, a monastery.] In Grk. Ch. The superior of a monastery or convent, corresponding to the abbot in the Western Church. Occasionally also used of a superintendent of several monasteries, corresponding to the Western superior abbot or provincial father.
1591. Horsey, Trav. (1857), 174. The principall priors, abbetts, archiemanders.
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlvii. (1782–8), IV. 564. Eutyches was the abbot, or archimandrite, or superior of three hundred monks.
1879. Mem. Cath. & Cr. Tait, 487. The Archbishop of Syra and Tenos was there, and his two Archimandrites.
