English Explanatory Dictionary

priest

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
  2. A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish.
  3. The highest office in the Aaronic priesthood.
verb
  1. To ordain as a priest.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹiːst/ [ˈpɹ̥iːst] en-us-priest.ogg En-uk-priest.ogg

Word forms

priest priests priesting priested

Etymology

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.

Related words

archbishop archimandrite bishop brother cardinal clergy clergyman clergyperson clergywoman cleric dean father metropolitan monk monsignor nun patriarch pope popess prelate vicar

Derived words

a dumb priest never got a parish antipriest archpriest archpriesthood astronomer-priest brown priest chief priest choke-priest die roaring for a priest fetish priest head priest hedge priest highpriest high priest high priestess highpriesthood highpriestly highpriestship hypepriest kill-priest mass priest parish priest priestal priestcap priestcraft priest-doctor priestdom priestery priestess Priestfield priest hole priesthood priestianity priestish priestism priest-king priestless priestlet priestlike priestliness priestling priestly priest-monk priestress priest-ridden priestship priestx protopriest proto-priest religious priest supply priest underpriest unpriest worker-priest
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