1.
2.
[syn: priest, non-Christian priest]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Presbyter \Pres"by*ter\, n. [L. an elder, fr. Gr. ?. See
Priest.]
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1. An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation
under Bishop, n., 1.
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2. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) One ordained to the second
order in the ministry; -- called also priest.
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I rather term the one sort presbyter than priest.
--Hooker.
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New presbyter is but old priest writ large.
--Milton.
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3. (Presbyterian Ch.) A member of a presbytery whether lay or
clerical.
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4. A Presbyterian. [Obs.] --Hudibras.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Priest \Priest\, n. [OE. prest, preost, AS. pre['o]st, fr. L.
presbyter, Gr. ? elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of ? an
old man, the first syllable of which is probably akin to L.
pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.]
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1. (Christian Church) A presbyter elder; a minister;
specifically:
(a) (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) One who is authorized to
consecrate the host and to say Mass; but especially,
one of the lowest order possessing this power.
--Murdock.
(b) (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) A presbyter; one who
belongs to the intermediate order between bishop and
deacon. He is authorized to perform all ministerial
services except those of ordination and confirmation.
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2. One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of
sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the
divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as, Buddhist
priests. "The priests of Dagon." --1 Sam. v. 5.
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Then the priest of Jupiter . . . brought oxen and
garlands . . . and would have done sacrifice with
the people. --Acts xiv. 13.
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Every priest taken from among men is ordained for
men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer
both gifts and sacrifices for sins. --Heb. v. 1.
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Note: In the New Testament presbyters are not called priests;
but Christ is designated as a priest, and as a high
priest, and all Christians are designated priests.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Priest \Priest\, v. t.
To ordain as priest.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
priest
n 1: a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to
perform or administer various religious rites; one of the
Holy Orders
2: a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies in a
non-Christian religion [syn: priest, non-Christian
priest]