rector Hear it!

rector Definition

rec·tor (rektər)

noun

  1. Obsolete a ruler, governor, or leader
  2. an Episcopal minister in charge of a parish
  3. Ch. of England
    1. a member of the clergy who holds the rights and tithes of a parish
    2. the priest leading a team ministry
  4. R.C.Ch.
    1. a priest heading a seminary, college, etc.
    2. sometimes, a pastor or other head priest
  5. in certain schools, colleges, and universities, the head or headmaster

Etymology: ME < L < pp. of regere, to rule: see right

rector Related Forms
rec·tor·ate (-it) noun rec·to·rial (-tôrē əl) adjective
rector Synonyms

rector

n.

pastor, vicar, parson; see minister 1.

rector Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • appoint: One of their first tasks was to appoint a rector.
  • lie: The chancel, built at the expense of the lay rectors, is fitted with oak seats.
  • elect: In November 1787 Smith was elected lord rector of Glasgow.
  • lay: After the Dissolution, the rectories and advowsons formerly held by monastic houses were sold, so that there were many lay rectors.
  • become: Paul McPherson became the first rector of the college from the ranks of the Scottish secular clergy.
  • say: Go now and see if anybody is coming " said the rector in five minutes ' time.

Adjective modifier

  • former: The former rector is either gone to a new job or moved to a retirement location.
  • late: In 1822, the Rev. William Wilson, a late rector, bequeathed £ 400 three per cent.
  • present: The rectory house was considerably enlarged by the present rector in 1845.
  • previous: Not only that, but the sisters of the previous rector were on hand, and eager to add lurid detail.
  • past: He has been a professor and is past rector of Opus Dei's Santa Croce University in Rome.
  • first: Paul McPherson became the first rector of the college from the ranks of the Scottish secular clergy.

Noun used with modifier

  • year: August 14 th 1833 Died on Wednesday last at Havre, the Rev William Butts, 45 years rector at Glemsford.
  • team: Team rector the Rev Andrew Holliday stated " we have had a gift day which received a good response and we raised £ 1,500.

Possessives

  • wife: She lived on the best of terms with all the rectors ' wives around her.

Preposition: in

  • parish: My grandfather was a clergyman, a Church of England rector in a parish in Norfolk.

Preposition: of

  • parish: The rector of a parish has much to do.
  • church: To the rector of the church, he leaves 40s.
  • university: Up to the change of rector of university, we were happy in our faculty.

Preposition: for

  • year: List of Rectors for 600 years, set up in 1936.
rector Quotes

It was manifest to me that there was something in the Roman Catholic religion which made the priests very dear to the people; for I doubt whether in any village in England, had such an accident happened to the rector, all the people would have roused themselves at midnight to wreak their vengeance on the assailant.

—Trollope, Anthony

Under bare Ben Bulben's head In Drumcliffe churchyard Yeats is laid, An ancestor was rector there Long years ago; a church stands near, By the road an ancient Cross. No marble, no conventional phrase, On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

Browse dictionary entries near rector

  1. rectocele
  2. recto-
  3. recto
  4. rectitude
  5. rectilinear
  6. rectify
  7. rectifier
  8. recti-
  9. rectangular coordinates
  10. rectangular
  1. rectory
  2. rectrix
  3. rectum
  4. rectus
  5. recumbent
  6. recuperate
  7. recur
  8. recurrence
  9. recurrent
  10. recurring decimal