priest

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English preist, preest, from Old English prēost, from Late Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), from πρέσβυς (presbus, elder, older), originally "one who leads cattle," from Proto-Indo-European *pres (before), extended form of *pre, + *gʷōus (cattle). Reinforced in Middle English by Old French prestre, also from Latin presbyter.

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

priest (plural priests)

  1. A religious clergyman who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
    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.
  2. A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish.
  3. (Mormonism) The highest office in the Aaronic priesthood.

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

Verb [edit]

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

  1. (transitive) To ordain as a priest.

Anagrams [edit]