rector

What it means

1. In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.

   1 more example

   It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

2. In the Roman Catholic Church, a cleric with managerial as well as spiritual responsibility for a church or other institution.
3. uncommonEastern OrthodoxyA priest or bishop in the Orthodox Church who is in charge of a parish or in an administrative leadership position in a theological seminary or academy.

In a sentence

It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

Where it comes from

1. Latinrēctor
2. Old Frenchrector
3. Middle Englishrectour
4. Englishrector

Inherited from Middle English rectour, rector, from Old French rector, rectour and Latin rēctor.