sacerdotalism

American  

[sas-er-doht-l-iz-uhm] / ˌsæs ərˈdoʊt lˌɪz əm /

noun

1. the system, spirit, or methods of the priesthood.

2. Usually Disparaging. priestcraft.

---

sacerdotalism British  

/ ˌsæsəˈdəʊtəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the principles, methods, etc, of the priesthood

2. the belief that ordained priests are endowed with sacramental and sacrificial powers

3. exaggerated respect for priests

4. derogatory power over people's opinions and actions achieved by priests through sophistry or guile

---

Other Word Forms

• sacerdotalist
  noun

---

Etymology

Origin of sacerdotalism

First recorded in 1840–50; sacerdotal + -ism

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sacerdotalism

The new liturgy still retained much of the leaven of sacerdotalism and sacramentarianism, but it was decidedly in advance of anything which could have been issued in the days of Henry VIII.

From John Knox by William M. (William Mackergo) Taylor

In the first place," wrote the Archdeacon, "your correspondent does not seem to have realised that the ethoes of the Diocese of Melby is not identical with that of sacerdotalism.

From The Secret Glory by Arthur Machen

And that is noteworthy just because of the profound sacerdotalism of the whole context of the Epistle.

From Messages from the Epistle to the Hebrews by H. C. G. (Handley Carr Glyn) Moule

And his rule marks the epoch at which all that we regard as specially characteristic of mediæval Christianity--its ethics, its asceticism, its sacerdotalism, and its superstitions--had reached its lasting shape.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 12 — Modern History by Sir John Alexander Hammerton

It is very significant that the mystics, who had undermined sacerdotalism, and in many other ways prepared the Reformation, were shouldered aside when the secession from Rome had to be organised.

From Christian Mysticism by William Ralph Inge

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---