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archpriest

 - 2 dictionary results

arch⋅priest

  [ahrch-preest]
Use archpriest in a Sentence
–noun
1. a priest holding first rank, as among the members of a cathedral chapter or among the clergy of a district outside the episcopal city.
2. Roman Catholic Church. a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME archeprest (modeled on LL archipresbyter < Gk archipresbýteros). See arch- 1 , priest

Related forms:
archpriesthood, noun
archpriestship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To archpriest
arch·priest   (ärch'prēst')   
n.   Roman Catholic Church

    1. Used formerly as a title for a priest holding first rank among the members of a cathedral chapter, acting as chief assistant to a bishop.

    2. An honorific title applied to a priest, which may be accompanied by a specific function.

  2. Eastern Orthodox Church The highest rank a married priest can hold.


[Middle English archeprest, from Old French archeprestre, from Late Latin archipresbyter, from Late Greek arkhipresbuteros : Greek arkhi-, archi- + Greek presbuteros, priest; see presbyter.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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