English Explanatory Dictionary

presbytery

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The home of a Roman Catholic parish priest.
  2. A section of a church reserved for the clergy, containing the altar.
  3. Presbyters collectively; the body of presbyters of a congregation.
  4. The district (jurisdiction) of those presbyters.
  5. A body of elders in the early Christian church.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹɛz.bɪ.tɛɹ.i/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-presbytery.wav

Word forms

presbytery presbyteries

Etymology

From Middle English presbetory, presbytory (“part of church reserved for clergy”), from Late Latin presbyterium (“group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy”), from Ancient Greek πρεσβῠτέρῐον (presbŭtérĭon, “group of presbyters”), from πρεσβῠ́τερος (presbŭ́teros, “elder, priest”) + -ῐον (-ĭon). By surface analysis, presbyter + -y. Doublet of presbyterium.

Synonyms

rectory curatage parsonage vicarage presbyterium sanctuary chancel[Appendix:Glossary diocese parish

Derived words

archpresbytery presbyterial presbyterian
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