archpriest
Americannoun
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a priest holding first rank, as among the members of a cathedral chapter or among the clergy of a district outside the episcopal city.
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Roman Catholic Church. a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.
noun
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(formerly) a chief assistant to a bishop, performing many of his sacerdotal functions during his absence
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a senior priest
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of archpriest
1350–1400; Middle English archeprest (modeled on Late Latin archipresbyter < Greek archipresbýteros ). See arch- 1, priest
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Asked about those who threatened the cathedral’s artworks, Roman Kravchyk, the archpriest, fingered the jeweled crucifix around his neck and muttered, “May God have mercy on their souls.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2022
BUCHA, Ukraine — While waiting for the archpriest to bless their baskets of food with his holy water-soaked brush, locals struck up conversations with each other — about matters only they could understand.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2022
A series of bishops, including Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, said they investigated the allegations, but no one ever interviewed Jarzembowski’s roommate.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2020
A series of bishops — including Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Francis' vicar for Rome and the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica — said they investigated, but no one ever interviewed the alleged victim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2019
There were two parties among the electors145—one for the archpriest Theodore, the other for the archdeacon Paschalis.
From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
