priest

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See also: Priest

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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From Middle English prest, preest, from Old English prēost (priest), from Late Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros), from πρέσβυς (présbus, elder, older). Reinforced in Middle English by Old French prestre, also from Latin presbyter. Doublet of presbyter and prester.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːst/, [ˈpɹ̥iːst]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːst

Noun

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priest (plural priests)

  1. A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
    Hypernym: cleric
    The priest at the Catholic church heard his confession.
    The Shinto priest burnt incense for his ancestors.
    The Israelite priests were descended from Moses' brother Aaron.
    • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
      It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
  2. A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish.
  3. (Mormonism) The highest office in the Aaronic priesthood.

Coordinate terms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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priest (third-person singular simple present priests, present participle priesting, simple past and past participle priested)

  1. (transitive) To ordain as a priest.

See also

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References

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Anagrams

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German

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Verb

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priest

  1. second-person singular/plural preterite of preisen

Middle English

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Noun

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priest

  1. Alternative form of prest (priest)