n. [ L. cista box, chest, Gr. &unr_; Cf. Chest. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Antiq.) A box or chest. Specifically: (a) A bronze receptacle, round or oval, frequently decorated with engravings on the sides and cover, and with feet, handles, etc., of decorative castings. (b) A cinerary urn. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. See Cyst. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inclosed in a cyst. See Cysted. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. Cistercium. F. Cîteaux, a convent not far from Dijon, in France: cf. F. cistercien. ] (Eccl.) A monk of the prolific branch of the Benedictine Order, established in 1098 at Cîteaux, in France, by Robert, abbot of Molesme. For two hundred years the Cistercians followed the rule of St. Benedict in all its rigor. -- a. Of or pertaining to the Cistercians. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne, fr. L. cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See Cist, and cf. chest. ] 1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer, or other liquids. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. “The wide cisterns of the lakes.” Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Cystic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of small to medium-sized evergreen shrubs of southern Europe and northern Africa.
Syn. -- genus Cistus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]