The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Anchoret \An"cho*ret\, Anchorite \An"cho*rite\, n. [F.
   anachor[`e]te, L. anachoreta, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to go back,
   retire; ? + ? to give place, retire, ? place; perh. akin to
   Skr. h[=a] to leave. Cf. Anchor a hermit.]
   One who renounces the world and secludes himself, usually for
   religious reasons; a hermit; a recluse. [Written by some
   authors anachoret.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Our Savior himself . . . did not choose an anchorite's
         or a monastic life, but a social and affable way of
         conversing with mortals.                 --Boyle.
   [1913 Webster] Anchoretic

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Anchorite \An"cho*rite\, n.
   Same as Anchoret.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

anchorite
    n 1: one retired from society for religious reasons [syn:
         anchorite, hermit]