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presbytery

[ prez-bi-ter-ee, pres- ]
/ ˈprɛz bɪˌtɛr i, ˈprɛs- /
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See synonyms for presbytery on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural pres·by·ter·ies.
a body of presbyters or elders.
(in Presbyterian churches) an ecclesiastical court consisting of all the ministers and one or two presbyters from each congregation in a district.
the churches under the jurisdiction of a presbytery.
the part of a church appropriated to the clergy.
Roman Catholic Church. a rectory.
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Origin of presbytery

1375–1425; late Middle English presbetory, presbitory priests' bench, for Late Latin presbyterium group of elders <Greek presbytérion.See presbyter, -y3

Words nearby presbytery

presbyterate, presbyterial, presbyterian, Presbyterian Church, Presbyterianism, presbytery, preschool, preschooler, preschooling, prescience, prescient
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to presbytery

benefice, manse, parsonage, vicarage

How to use presbytery in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for presbytery

presbytery
/ (ˈprɛzbɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /
noun plural -teries
Presbyterian Church
  1. a local Church court composed of ministers and elders
  2. the congregations or churches within the jurisdiction of any such court
the part of a cathedral or church east of the choir, in which the main altar is situated; sanctuary
presbyters or elders collectively
government of a church by presbyters or elders
RC Church the residence of a parish priest

Word Origin for presbytery

C15: from Old French presbiterie, from Church Latin presbyterium, from Greek presbyterion; see presbyter
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
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