priestly

[preest-lee]

See more synonyms for priestly on Thesaurus.com

adjective, priest·li·er, priest·li·est.

of or relating to a priest; sacerdotal: priestly vestments.
characteristic of or befitting a priest.

Origin of priestly

before 1000; Middle English prestli, Old English prēostlic. See priest, -ly

Related formspriest·li·ness, nounnon·priest·ly, adjectivepseu·do·priest·ly, adjectiveun·priest·ly, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for priestly

Contemporary Examples

The website Bishop Accountability keeps some of the most extensive records on allegations of priestly abuse available.
How Sicko Priests Got Away With It
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 16, 2014
Priestly celibacy, obviously: you'll naturally attract people who can't act on their sexual desires in public.
Sex Abuse Scandals at Horace Mann: What Do They Tell Us About Private School?
Megan McArdle
March 26, 2013
The study also cites a reluctance among some sisters to embrace the “reservation of priestly ordination to men.”
Former Nun Mary Johnson Criticizes Vatican Crackdown on U.S. Sisters
Abigail Pesta
April 27, 2012
But the name Cohen is reserved for the priestly caste descended directly from the biblical Aaron.
The Big Baby-Naming Battle
Pamela Redmond Satran/Nameberry
May 5, 2009
The priestly dinner scene is brighter: they eat their meat, roar with laughter, drink their beer.
We Miserable Catholics
Frank McCourt
December 19, 2008

Historical Examples

In all editions prior to 1852, 'Priestley' is spelled 'Priestly'.
The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
This is the feeling of the priests, and the people are under the priestly thumb.
Ireland as It Is
Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
The father of Teresa Sandoval was the priestly son of a marquise of Spain!
The Treasure Trail
Marah Ellis Ryan
O'Brien shook off the priestly hand, and fixed his eyes upon Seraphina.
Romance
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
No doubt there were germs in the early Iranian religion of a priestly system.
History of Religion
Allan Menzies

British Dictionary definitions for priestly

priestly

adjective -lier or -liest

of, relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a priest

Derived Formspriestliness, noun

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 priestly

adj.

mid-15c.; see priest + -ly (1). Old English had preostlic, but the modern word seems to be a Middle English re-formation.

priestly

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}priestly

Examples from the Web for priestly

Contemporary Examples

The website Bishop Accountability keeps some of the most extensive records on allegations of priestly abuse available.

Priestly celibacy, obviously: you'll naturally attract people who can't act on their sexual desires in public.

The study also cites a reluctance among some sisters to embrace the “reservation of priestly ordination to men.”

But the name Cohen is reserved for the priestly caste descended directly from the biblical Aaron.

The priestly dinner scene is brighter: they eat their meat, roar with laughter, drink their beer.

Historical Examples

In all editions prior to 1852, 'Priestley' is spelled 'Priestly'.

This is the feeling of the priests, and the people are under the priestly thumb.

The father of Teresa Sandoval was the priestly son of a marquise of Spain!

O'Brien shook off the priestly hand, and fixed his eyes upon Seraphina.

No doubt there were germs in the early Iranian religion of a priestly system.

priestly

Word Origin and History for priestly

adj.

Origin of priestly