priest
a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and especially to make sacrificial offerings.
(in Christian use)
a person ordained to the sacerdotal or pastoral office; a member of the clergy; minister.
(in hierarchical churches) a member of the clergy of the order next below that of bishop, authorized to carry out the Christian ministry.
a minister of any religion.
to ordain as a priest.
Origin of priest
1Other words from priest
- priestless, adjective
- priestlike, adjective, adverb
- an·ti·priest, adjective
- un·der·priest, noun
- un·priest·like, adjective, adverb
Words that may be confused with priest
Words Nearby priest
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use priest in a sentence
After abandoning his training as a priest, he spent the rest of his life reading voraciously.
Did Stalin’s rise to power foretell the butchery that came next? | Robert Service | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostInitially, I and another parishioner helped our priest record services ahead of time that would be uploaded on the church’s YouTube page for Sunday morning.
How a funeral inspired the pandemic’s hottest hardware | Daniel Bentley | October 18, 2020 | FortuneThose days that I had to go to various priests for deliverance and guidance.
How Young, Queer Nigerians Use Twitter To Shape Identity And Fight Homophobia | LGBTQ-Editor | October 14, 2020 | No Straight NewsKolfage has unleashed his growing army of followers on critics and opponents of those projects, including local elected and wildlife refuge officials and a priest.
Veteran, War Hero, Defendant, Troll | by Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo | September 29, 2020 | ProPublicaHe and the other priests at his observatory were particularly adept at reading the clouds for storm intensity and trajectory, and he tried to warn Texans about the incoming threat.
He was then literally slapped around by the high priest, who pulled on his ears in an effort to produce tears.
According to Wahlberg, his time in prison, as well as the guidance of a parish priest, helped him turn his life around.
Mark Wahlberg’s Pardon Plea: A Look Back At His Troubling, Violent, and Racist Rap Sheet | Marlow Stern | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAmid accusations of infidelity, she told reporters in 1988 that she and the former priest were just fine.
He speaks with the authority of a native of this land as well as the authority of priest.
The priest for the Creole ceremony was Father Marcel Saint Jean.
These residents then killed the parish priest, and without arms fled for safety to the mountain ravines.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanSimon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various"Without doubt; true demons incarnate," replied the veracious priest.
He now knew no bounds to his wrath; and he proclaimed it in such a manner, that the terrified priest flew before him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter“My own mother nearly broke her heart because I would not become a priest,” said Aristide.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for priest
feminine priestess
/ (priːst) /
Christianity a person ordained to act as a mediator between God and man in administering the sacraments, preaching, blessing, guiding, etc
(in episcopal Churches) a minister in the second grade of the hierarchy of holy orders, ranking below a bishop but above a deacon
a minister of any religion
Judaism a descendant of the family of Aaron who has certain privileges in the synagogue service
(in some non-Christian religions) an official who offers sacrifice on behalf of the people and performs other religious ceremonies
(sometimes capital) a variety of fancy pigeon having a bald pate with a crest or peak at the back of the head
angling a small club used to kill fish caught
to make a priest; ordain
Origin of priest
1Other words from priest
- Related adjective: hieratic
Derived forms of priest
- priestlike, adjective
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
Cultural definitions for priest
One who is designated an authority on religious matters. In some churches, especially the Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholic Church, the ordained church leader who serves a congregation of believers is called a priest. The priests in these churches administer the sacraments, preach, and care for the needs of their congregations. (See also minister and pastor.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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