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churchwarden

[church-wawr-dn]
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noun

Anglican Church. a lay officer who looks after the secular affairs of the church, and who, in England, is the legal representative of the parish.
Episcopal Church. a lay church officer who, with other members of the vestry, is in charge of the temporal management of the parish.
a long-stemmed clay pipe for smoking.

Origin of churchwarden

1400–50; late Middle English chirche wardeyn
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for churchwarden

Historical Examples of churchwarden

  • To me (I know how absurd it is) he looked like a churchwarden.

    The Shadow-Line

    Joseph Conrad

  • No, all was safe, but her excuse had not deceived the churchwarden.

    The Nebuly Coat

    John Meade Falkner

  • The Churchwarden examined the map carefully, while the others all looked at him.

  • "Never knew my Odour of Sanctity to fail once," said the Churchwarden, coolly.

  • Then the Churchwarden said, "It's my opinion that this is pirates' treasure."

British Dictionary definitions for churchwarden

churchwarden

noun

Church of England Episcopal Church one of two assistants of a parish priest who administer the secular affairs of the church
a long-stemmed tobacco pipe made of clay
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