priestcraft

American  

[preest-kraft, -krahft] / ˈpristˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /

noun

1. the training, knowledge, and abilities necessary to a priest.

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priestcraft British  

/ ˈpriːstˌkrɑːft /

noun

1. the art and skills involved in the work of a priest

2. derogatory the influence of priests upon politics or the use by them of secular power

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Etymology

Origin of priestcraft

First recorded in 1475–85; priest + craft

Example Sentences

In the 1820s and '30s, there was the Workingmen's Movement, pitted against the evils of "kingcraft, priestcraft and lawyercraft."

From Time Magazine Archive

"He would never have done," says Goethe, "with degrading religion and the sacred books, for the sake of injuring priestcraft, as they called it."

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16 by Various

They declaimed in favour of liberty and against priestcraft and tyranny with all the ardour and freshness of youth.

From George Brown by Lewis, John

Above there were the priests, who had always from the dawn of time been of the priestcraft, being born a notch lower than the gods themselves, who were the golden globes.

From The Buttoned Sky by Reynard, Geoff St.

It is true that his preaching had won him more followers than his priestcraft had turned away.

From Peccavi by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)