ecclesiastic

[ih-klee-zee-as-tik]

noun

a member of the clergy or other person in religious orders.

a member of the ecclesia in ancient Athens.

adjective

ecclesiastical.

Origin of ecclesiastic

1475–85; < Late Latin ecclēsiasticus < Greek ekklēsiastikós. See Ecclesiastes, -ic

Related formsan·ti·ec·cle·si·as·tic, noun, adjectivenon·ec·cle·si·as·tic, adjective, nounun·ec·cle·si·as·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ecclesiastics

cleric, pastor, preacher, priest, minister, abbot, prelate, divine, chaplain, parson, reverend

Examples from the Web for ecclesiastics

Historical Examples of ecclesiastics

Crossan, a stern judge of ecclesiastics, has the highest opinion of him.
The Red Hand of Ulster
George A. Birmingham
A sharp blow was dealt also at the recovered privileges of ecclesiastics.
The Reign of Mary Tudor
W. Llewelyn Williams.
Bands are worn by the ecclesiastics in France and Italy, as well as in England.
Notes and Queries, Number 35, June 29, 1850
Various
What a marvelous opiate the ecclesiastics have been injecting into the minds of the masses!
The Necessity of Atheism
Dr. D.M. Brooks
I execrate the enslavement of the mind of our young children by the ecclesiastics.
The Necessity of Atheism
Dr. D.M. Brooks

British Dictionary definitions for ecclesiastics

ecclesiastic

noun

a clergyman or other person in holy orders

adjective

of or associated with the Christian Church or clergy

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

Word Origin and History for ecclesiastics

ecclesiastic

adj.

late 15c., from Middle French ecclésiastique and directly from Late Latin ecclesiasticus, from Greek ekklesiastikos "of the (ancient Athenian) assembly," later, "of the church," from ekklesiastes "speaker in an assembly or church, preacher," from ekkalein "to call out," from ek "out" (see ex-) + kalein "to call" (see claim (v.)).