presbytery

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprɛzbɪt(ə)ri/

noun (plural presbyteries)

  • 1 [treated as singular or plural] a body of Church elders and ministers, especially (in Presbyterian Churches) an administrative body (court) representing all the local congregations of a district.
  • a district represented by a presbytery.
  • 2the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest.
  • 3chiefly Architecture the eastern part of a church chancel beyond the choir; the sanctuary.

Origin:

late Middle English (in presbytery (sense 3)): from Old French presbiterie, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek presbuterion, from presbuteros (see presbyter)