a denomination of nuns of St. Peter of Alcantara, instituted in 1576, the design of which is to imitate the severe penitent life of that saint; thus they are to keep a continual silence, never to open their mouths to any body but themselves; employ their time wholly in spiritual exercises, and leave the temporal concerns to a number of maids, who have a particular superior in a separate part of the monastery. They always go barefooted, without sandals, gird themselves with a thick cord, and wear no linen.