presbytery

English

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɛz.bɪ.tɛɹ.i/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

presbytery (plural presbyteries)

2. The home of a Roman Catholic parish priest.

   Synonym: rectory

   Near-synonyms: curatage, parsonage, vicarage

4. A section of a church reserved for the clergy, containing the altar.

   Synonyms: presbyterium, sanctuary

   Near-synonym: chancel (broadly synonymous)

6. Presbyters collectively; the body of presbyters of a congregation.

   Meronym: presbyter

8. The district (jurisdiction) of those presbyters.

   Near-synonyms: diocese, parish

10. A body of elders in the early Christian church.

Derived terms

• archpresbytery
• presbyterial
• presbyterian
• Presbyterian

Translations

a body of church elders

• Catalan: presbiteri (ca) m
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: πρεσβυτέριον n (presbutérion)

• Indonesian: pastoran (id)
• Italian: presbiterio (it) m
• Māori: perehepetere
• Polish: prezbiterium (pl) n
• Portuguese: presbitério (pt) m
• Romanian: prezbiteriu (ro) n
• Spanish: presbiterio (es) m

chancel — see chancel