[syn: ecclesiastical, ecclesiastic]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ecclesiastic \Ec*cle`si*as"tic\ (?; 277), a. [L. ecclesiasticus,
Gr. ?, fr. ? an assembly of citizens called out by the crier;
also, the church, fr. ? called out, fr. ? to call out; 'ek
out + ? to call. See Ex-, and Hale, v. t., Haul.]
Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical.
"Ecclesiastic government." --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ecclesiastic \Ec*cle`si*as"tic\, n.
A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the
church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest.
[1913 Webster]
From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently
preferred to the highest dignities of the church.
--Prescott.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ecclesiastic
adj 1: of or associated with a church (especially a Christian
Church); "ecclesiastic history" [syn: ecclesiastical,
ecclesiastic]
n 1: a clergyman or other person in religious orders [syn:
cleric, churchman, divine, ecclesiastic]