priest

 
Pronunciation: /priːst/

noun

  • 1an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments: the priest celebrated mass at a small altar off the north transept
  • a person who performs religious ceremonies and duties in a non-Christian religion: the plays were performed within the sacred area of Dionysus, in the presence of his priest
  • 2a mallet used to kill fish caught when angling.
    [with allusion to the priest's function in performing the last rites]

verb

[with object] formal
  • ordain to the priesthood: he was made deacon in 1990 and priested in 1994

Derivatives

priestlike

adjective

Origin:

Old English prēost, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch priester, German Priester, based on ecclesiastical Latin presbyter 'elder' (see presbyter)

Spelling rule

i before e except after c (as in thief).