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 a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.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
- archpriesthood noun
- archpriestship noun
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.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the basilica’s archpriest, prayed that the “deceased pope emeritus” might be welcomed into the “eternal abode.”
From Washington Post • Jan. 2, 2023
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
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
His magic pen has already changed into Jesuits three such perfect disparates, as Louis XIV, the miserable Jacques Clement, and the weak English archpriest Blackwell.
From The New Conspiracy Against the Jesuits Detected and Briefly Exposed with a short account of their institute; and observations on the danger of systems of education independent of religion by Dallas, R. C. (Robert Charles)
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.
