priest

priest · noun, verb¹

1. Old French · derived fromprestre
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromπρεσβύτερος
3. Late Latin · derived frompresbyter
4. Old English · inherited fromprēost“priest”
5. Middle English · inherited fromprest
6. English todaypriest

From Middle English prest, preest, from Old English prēost (“priest”), from Late Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros), from πρέσβυς (présbus, “elder, older”). Reinforced in Middle English by Old French prestre, also from Latin presbyter. Doublet of presbyter and prester. * The Tyndale Bible uses native English elder instead.

Priest · proper noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromPrest
2. English todayPriest

From Middle English Prest.

Words from the same roots