archpriest

[ ahrch-preest ]
See synonyms for archpriest on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a priest holding first rank, as among the members of a cathedral chapter or among the clergy of a district outside the episcopal city.

  2. 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 a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.

Origin of archpriest

1
1350–1400; Middle English archeprest (modeled on Late Latin archipresbyter<Greek archipresbýteros). See arch-1, priest

Other words from archpriest

  • archpriesthood, noun
  • archpriestship, noun

Words Nearby archpriest

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

How to use archpriest in a sentence

  • Then began a bitter war of pamphlets between the adherents and the adversaries of the archpriest.

    The Jesuits, 1534-1921 | Thomas J. Campbell
  • The archpriest of the cathedral, Canon Landrieux (to-day a bishop), called for aid from the onlookers.

    How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
  • Then the archpriest stepped forward, went to the belfry, and disengaged the rope from the hand of him who was jangling the bell.

    Pabo, The Priest | Sabine Baring-Gould
  • "I hold you answerable for my safety," said Bernard, putting forth a trembling hand and plucking at the archpriest.

    Pabo, The Priest | Sabine Baring-Gould
  • So be it—our archpriest Pabo shall disappear, and disappear so that the enemy shall not know that he be alive.

    Pabo, The Priest | Sabine Baring-Gould

British Dictionary definitions for archpriest

archpriest

/ (ˈɑːtʃˈpriːst) /


nounChristianity
  1. (formerly) a chief assistant to a bishop, performing many of his sacerdotal functions during his absence

  2. a senior priest

Derived forms of archpriest

  • archpriesthood or archpriestship, noun

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