Dictionary.com

parish

[ par-ish ]
/ ˈpær ɪʃ /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for parish on Thesaurus.com

noun

an ecclesiastical district having its own church and member of the clergy.
a local church with its field of activity.
(in Louisiana) a county.
the people of an ecclesiastical or civil parish.
Curling. house (def. 20).

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar helpImprove Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing
Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Idioms for parish

    on the parish, British.
    1. receiving charity from local authorities.
    2. Informal. meagerly or inadequately supplied.

Origin of parish

1250–1300; Middle English, variant of parosshe<Middle French paroisse<Late Latin parochia, alteration of paroecia<Late Greek paroikía, derivative of Greek pároikos neighbor, (in Christian usage) sojourner (see paroicous); see -ia

OTHER WORDS FROM parish

in·ter·par·ish, adjectivetrans·par·ish, adjective

Words nearby parish

Paris, Paris Club, Paris Commune, Paris daisy, Paris green, parish, Parishad, parish clerk, parish council, parish house, parishioner
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to parish

church, community, fold, flock, territory, bethel, archdiocese, churchgoers, parishioners

Example sentences from the Web for parish

British Dictionary definitions for parish

parish
/ (ˈpærɪʃ) /

noun

a subdivision of a diocese, having its own church and a clergymanRelated adjective: parochial
the churchgoers of such a subdivision
(in England and, formerly, Wales) the smallest unit of local government in rural areas
(in Louisiana) a unit of local government corresponding to a county in other states of the US
the people living in a parish
on the parish history receiving parochial relief

Word Origin for parish

C13: from Old French paroisse, from Church Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, sojourner, from Greek: neighbour, from para- 1 (beside) + oikos house
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
Book Your Online Tutor Now