anchoress

noun

1. A female anchorite. A woman who chooses to withdraw from the world to live a solitary life of prayer and contemplation.

   “… and advises the anchoresses to take on the basic religious vows …”

2. (informal)An anchorwoman.

   “Williams was co-hosting in place of Katie Couric, a move some have speculated was meant to deprive the possible next anchoress of the CBS Evening News the prime time exposure.”

   “Mr. Thompson reportedly booted executives off a cross-continental Citigroup flight to be alone with the impeccably brunette anchoress.”