Etymology

clerical

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Today it means: Of or relating to clerks or their work. Full definition →

First used 19th c.Late Latin clēricālis
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The story

  1. Late Latin · derived fromclēricālis“clerical”
  2. English todayclerical

From Late Latin clēricālis (“clerical”), from clēricus (“clergyman, priest”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 19th c. A member of the clergy.
  • from 19th c. Clerical garments.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.