an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.; a church dignitary.
Origin: 1175–1225; ME prelat < ML praelātus a civil or ecclesiastical dignitary, n. use of L praelātus (ptp. of praeferre to prefer), equiv. to prae-pre-+ lātus, suppletive ptp. of ferre to bear1
[prel-it] 
ɪt