Definitions for priest
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word priest.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
priest, non-Christian priestnoun
a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies in a non-Christian religion
A religious clergyman who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish.
The highest office in the Aaronic priesthood.
Etymology: From preist, preest, from preost, from presbyter, from πρεσβύτερος, from πρέσβυς. Reinforced in Middle English by prestre, also from Latin presbyter.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Etymology: preost , Sax. prestre, Fr.
I’ll to the vicar,
Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest. William Shakespeare.
The high priest shall not uncover his head. Lev. xxi. 10.
Our practice of singing differs from the practice of David, the priests and Levites. Henry Peacham.
These pray’rs I thy priest before thee bring. John Milton.
No neighbours, but a few poor simple clowns,
Honest and true, with a well-meaning priest. Nicholas Rowe.
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities. Their office or position is the 'priesthood', a term which also may apply to such persons collectively. A priest may have the duty to hear confessions periodically, give marriage counseling, provide prenuptial counseling, give spiritual direction, teach catechism, or visit those confined indoors, such as the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.
A priest is a religious leader who performs sacred rituals, offers spiritual guidance, and interprets religious laws within a particular faith or religion. They often have the authority to conduct ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms, and can administer rites and sacraments. The exact role, duties, qualifications, and status of a priest can vary widely depending on the specific religious tradition.
a presbyter elder; a minister
one who is authorized to consecrate the host and to say Mass; but especially, one of the lowest order possessing this power
a presbyter; one who belongs to the intermediate order between bishop and deacon. He is authorized to perform all ministerial services except those of ordination and confirmation
one who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as, Buddhist priests
to ordain as priest
Etymology: [OE. prest, preost, AS. prest, fr. L. presbyter, Gr. elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of an old man, the first syllable of which is probably akin to L. pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.]
A priest or priestess is a person authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or multiple deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities. Their office or position is the priesthood, a term which also may apply to such persons collectively. Priests and priestesses have existed since the earliest of times and in the simplest societies. They exist in all or some branches of Judaism, Christianity, Shintoism, Hinduism and many other religions. They are generally regarded as having positive contact with the deity or deities of the religion to which they subscribe, often interpreting the meaning of events and performing the rituals of the religion. Priests are leaders to whom other believers will often turn for advice on spiritual matters. In many religions, being a priest or priestess is a full-time position, ruling out any other career. In other cases it is a part-time role. For example in the early history of Iceland the chieftains were titled goði, a word meaning "priest". As seen in the saga of Hrafnkell Freysgoði, however, being a priest consisted merely of offering periodic sacrifices to the Norse gods and goddesses; it was not a full-time role, nor did it involve ordination.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
prēst, n. one who offers sacrifices or officiates in sacred offices: a minister above a deacon and below a bishop: a clergyman:—fem. Priest′ess.—ns. Priest′craft, priestly policy: the schemes of priests to gain wealth or power; Priest′hood, the office or character of a priest: the priestly order.—adjs. Priest′-like, Priest′ly, pertaining to or like a priest.—n. Priest′liness.—adj. Priest′-rid′den, controlled by priests.—High priest, a chief priest, esp. the chief ecclesiastical officer in the ancient Jewish church. [A.S. preóst (O. Fr. prestre, Fr. prêtre)—L. presbyter, an elder.]
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
properly a man in touch with the religious life of the people, and for the most part consecrated to mediate between them and the Deity; the prophet, on the other hand, being one more in touch with the Deity, being at times so close to Him as to require a priest to mediate between him and the laity.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Priest is ranked #2430 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Priest surname appeared 14,915 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 would have the surname Priest.
88.1% or 13,142 total occurrences were White.
6.1% or 911 total occurrences were Black.
2.5% or 386 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
2% or 301 total occurrences were of two or more races.
0.6% or 89 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
0.5% or 84 total occurrences were Asian.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'priest' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4272
Rank popularity for the word 'priest' in Nouns Frequency: #1320
The numerical value of priest in Chaldean Numerology is: 5
The numerical value of priest in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
There exist only three beings worthy of respect the priest, the soldier, the poet. To know, to kill, to create.
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.” -St. Francis Xavier, Priest “It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.” -St. Francis Xavier, Priest
There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.
I was just gon na quote that, in 1170, December 29, King Henry II said,' Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest ?' and the next day he( the priest) was killed, Thomas Becket. We're thinking along the same lines.
Father Josiah Trenham said. The incident took place on April 12, some four months after a terror attack left 14 dead in nearby San Bernardino, and just over three months before a French priest was killed by ISIS-linked jihadists in his church. The events, whether far or near, underscore a grim new reality for pastors such as Father Josiah Trenham : Instead of offering sanctuary from evil, churches could in fact be attractive targets for terror. Many churches are now hiring self-defense instructors for classes or security guards that include off-duty police, said Ryan Mauro, a professor of Homeland Security at Liberty University and national security analyst for the Clarion Project. If you are an Islamist terrorist seeking self-glory, executing a priest will bring you more attention than executing an average civilian. While no lethal terror attacks have occurred inside a U.S. church to date, experts like Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, notes the threat tally is growing. I'm pretty sure there will be attacks in the future, until [ radical Islam is defeated ], we can expect Christians, including in the West, to rationally tighten security measures and try to protect themselves from attack. In February, Khial Abu-Rayyan, 21, of Dearborn Heights, Mich., was arrested after Khial Abu-Rayyan told an undercover The FBI agent Khial Abu-Rayyan was preparing to shoot up a major church near Khial Abu-Rayyan home on behalf of ISIS. A month earlier, the Rev. Roger Spradlin of Valley Baptist Church – one of the biggest congregations in Bakersfield, Calif. – told attendees that they had received a threat written in Arabic. Undercover officers were then placed during worship services.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for priest
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- قسيس, كاهنArabic
- святар, ксёндз, жрэцBelarusian
- свещеник, попBulgarian
- བླ་མTibetan Standard
- sacerdotCatalan, Valencian
- Pfarrerin, Pfaffe, Pastor, Priester, Pastorin, Seelsorger, Pfäffin, Pfarrer, Seelsorgerin, PriesterinGerman
- παπάς, ιερωμένος, πρωτοπρεσβύτερος, κληρικός, εφημέριος, ιερέας, πρεσβύτεροςGreek
- sacerdote, párroco, curaSpanish
- abade, apaizBasque
- sagartScottish Gaelic
- כֹּהֵן, כומרHebrew
- երեց, տերտեր, քուրմ, քահանաArmenian
- prestre, sacerdoteInterlingua
- prete, sacerdoteItalian
- 僧, 司祭, 神父, 牧師, 祭司Japanese
- მღვდელი, ქურუმიGeorgian
- palasiKalaallisut, Greenlandic
- 신부, 神父Korean
- sacerdos, flamenLatin
- PaschtouerLuxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
- свештеник, попMacedonian
- pastoor, priesterDutch
- prestNorwegian Nynorsk
- ééʼ neishoodiiNavajo, Navaho
- ksiądz, kapłan, klechaPolish
- presbítero, sacerdote, padrePortuguese
- prer, spiritualRomansh
- жрец, святой отец, отец, священник, батюшка, поп, ксёндзRussian
- peidru, prede, predi, peideruSardinian
- отац, otac, жрец, свештеник, svećenik, žrec, sveštenik, pop, свећеник, попSerbo-Croatian
- kňaz, otec, duchovný, páter, páterkoSlovak
- pastor, präst, prostSwedish
- หลวงพ่อ, มุนิ, พระ, พระสงฆ์, นักบวชThai
- papaz, din adamıTurkish
- священник, жрець, ксьондз, отець, ієрей, піп, священикUkrainian
- pop, kohin, kashish, ruhoniyUzbek
- linh mụcVietnamese
- hipädan, jikultan, hipastan, pädan, jipastan, kultan, jipädan, hikultan, pastanVolapük
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"priest." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 29 Sep. 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/priest>.