archpriest

American  

[ahrch-preest] / ˈɑrtʃˈprist /

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 a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.

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archpriest British  

/ ˈɑːtʃˈpriːst /

noun

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

2. a senior priest

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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

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

Sodano listed the stages of Law’s clerical life and said the late Pope John Paul had “called him to Rome” to be archpriest of a Rome basilica.

From Reuters • Dec. 21, 2017

Cardinal Law stepped down as archbishop on Dec. 13, 2002, and later moved to Rome, where he served, until shortly before his 80th birthday, as archpriest of a basilica.

From Washington Post • Dec. 20, 2017

In Germany, at Heidelberg, Sanz del Río found dying Krause, the first archpriest who stood interpreting between Kant and the world.

From Rosinante to the Road Again by Dos Passos, John