prelate
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prelate
1175–1225; Middle English prelat < Medieval Latin praelātus a civil or ecclesiastical dignitary, noun use of Latin praelātus (past participle of praeferre to prefer ), equivalent to prae- pre- + lātus, suppletive past participle of ferre to bear 1
Explanation
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy, such as a cardinal, abbot, or bishop, who has authority over lesser clergy. Both Catholic and Protestant religions have prelates in their ranks. The source of prelate is the Latin adjective praelatus, "noble," whose meaning is appropriate to the modern meaning, a high-level church dignitary. The word was applied to those high-ranking clergymen around the beginning of the 13th century, the Middle English coming from the Middle French prelat. As the church's importance increased, so did the importance implied by the word prelate. Ambrose Bierce referred to a prelate as "one of Heaven's aristocracy."
Vocabulary lists containing prelate
A Room of One's Own
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Henry V
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Candide
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Monday, Hullerman was suspended from his current position, and his supervisor, Prelate Josef Obermaier, resigned.
From Time • Mar. 16, 2010
His supervisor, Prelate Josef Obermaier, resigned, according to the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.
From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2010
Presumably his inauguration is assured for next December, and last week Prelate Ruiz hinted broadly that he had received assurances from President-Apparent Obregon that better times are coming to Mexican Roman Catholics.
From Time Magazine Archive
Last, preceded by pages and surrounded by a retinue of priests, marched the scarlet cardinals,* with purple-clad Prelate Bonzano dispensing blessings upon his genuflecting worshipers.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the Cathedral is at St. Jago, and the Revenue of this Prelate not less than fifty thousand Pieces of Eight per Annum.
From The History of Cuba, vol. 2 by Johnson, Willis Fletcher
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
