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priest

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The definition of a priest is someone who performs religious rituals and rites for a church or other religious organization.

(noun)

An example of a priest is the person in charge of an Episcopal church.

See priest in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a person whose function is to make sacrificial offerings and perform other religious rites as an intermediary between deity and worshipers
1. in the early Christian church, a presbyter, or elder
2. in hierarchical Christian churches, a clergyman ranking next below a bishop and authorized to administer the sacraments
any clergyman

Origin: ME prest < OE preost (? with -o- by assoc. with profost, provost) < LL(Ec) presbyter, an elder < Gr presbyteros, elder, compar. of presbys, old, old man (in LGr(Ec), an elder) < IE *pres-, ahead < base *per- (see per, pre-) + *gwou-, cow, ox (hence, orig., lead-ox)

Related Forms:

priesthood noun

See priest in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

In many Christian churches, a member of the second grade of clergy ranking below a bishop but above a deacon and having authority to administer the sacraments.
A person having the authority to perform and administer religious rites.

transitive verb priest·ed, priest·ing, priests

To ordain or admit to the priesthood.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English preost

Origin: , from Old English prēost

Origin: , perhaps from Vulgar Latin *prester (from Late Latin presbyter; see presbyter)

Origin: or from West Germanic *prēvost (from Latin praepositus, superintendent; see provost)

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