noun

1. a person whose function is to make sacrificial offerings and perform other religious rites as an intermediary between deity and worshipers
2. 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
3. any clergyman

Etymology: 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)