priest

[ preest ]
See synonyms for: priestpriests on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and especially to make sacrificial offerings.

  2. (in Christian use)

    • a person ordained to the sacerdotal or pastoral office; a member of the clergy; minister.

    • (in hierarchical churches) a member of the clergy of the order next below that of bishop, authorized to carry out the Christian ministry.

  1. a minister of any religion.

verb (used with object)
  1. to ordain as a priest.

Origin of priest

1
before 900; Middle English prest(e), priest,Old English prēost, ultimately <Late Latin presbyterpresbyter

Other words from priest

  • priestless, adjective
  • priestlike, adjective, adverb
  • an·ti·priest, adjective
  • un·der·priest, noun
  • un·priest·like, adjective, adverb

Words that may be confused with priest

Words Nearby priest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use priest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for priest

priest

feminine priestess

/ (priːst) /


noun
  1. Christianity a person ordained to act as a mediator between God and man in administering the sacraments, preaching, blessing, guiding, etc

  2. (in episcopal Churches) a minister in the second grade of the hierarchy of holy orders, ranking below a bishop but above a deacon

  1. a minister of any religion

  2. Judaism a descendant of the family of Aaron who has certain privileges in the synagogue service

  3. (in some non-Christian religions) an official who offers sacrifice on behalf of the people and performs other religious ceremonies

  4. (sometimes capital) a variety of fancy pigeon having a bald pate with a crest or peak at the back of the head

  5. angling a small club used to kill fish caught

verb(tr)
  1. to make a priest; ordain

Origin of priest

1
Old English prēost, apparently from presbyter; related to Old High German prēster, Old French prestre

Other words from priest

  • Related adjective: hieratic

Derived forms of priest

  • priestlike, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for priest

priest

One who is designated an authority on religious matters. In some churches, especially the Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholic Church, the ordained church leader who serves a congregation of believers is called a priest. The priests in these churches administer the sacraments, preach, and care for the needs of their congregations. (See also minister and pastor.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.