starets

S1T1A1R1E1T1S1

noun

An Eastern Orthodox elder, typically a monk or hieromonk, often renowned for holy wisdom, who functions as an adviser and teacher.

OriginRussian ста́рец →
Scrabble 7
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Meanings

nounstarets (plural staretses or startsy)

plural staretses · plural startsy

  1. Eastern Orthodoxy; chiefly Russian Orthodoxy; Eastern Orthodoxy; chiefly Russian OrthodoxyAn Eastern Orthodox elder, typically a monk or hieromonk, often renowned for holy wisdom, who functions as an adviser and teacher.

Origin

  1. Russianста́рец
  2. Englishstarets

Borrowed from Russian ста́рец (stárec) (q.v.).

More words from Russian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech starec
  • starecan elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
French starets
  • staretsan elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
German Starez
  • Starezan elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
Greek στάρετς, γέροντας
  • στάρετς (stárets)an elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
  • γέροντας (gérontas)an elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
Russian ста́рец
  • ста́рец (stárec)an elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher
Ukrainian ста́рець
  • ста́рець (stárecʹ)an elder of a monastery in the Orthodox Church who functions as an adviser and teacher

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

starset
Cite this entry
APA

starets. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starets

MLA

“starets.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starets. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “starets,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starets.

Source: starets on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.