Word Study
clerical
CIDE DICTIONARY
clerical, a. [LL. clericalis. See Clerk.].
- Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. Burke. [1913 Webster]
- Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. E. Everett. [1913 Webster]
- characteristic of the work performed by a clerk, secretary, or copyist, or suitable to be performed by a clerk. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
clerical, adj.
1 of the clergy or clergymen.
2 of or done by a clerk or clerks.
1 of the clergy or clergymen.
2 of or done by a clerk or clerks.
Idiom
clerical collar a stiff upright white collar fastening at the back, as worn by the clergy in some Churches. clerical error an error made in copying or writing out.
Derivative
clericalism n. clericalist n. clerically adv.
Etymology
eccl.L clericalis (as CLERIC)
THESAURUS
clerical
abbatial, abbatical, accounting, apostolic, archiepiscopal, bookkeeping, canonical, capitular, capitulary, churchly, churchman, cleric, clerk, divine, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical, episcopal, episcopalian, evangelistic, hieratic, minister, ministerial, monastic, office, papal, parson, pastoral, pontifical, preacher, prelatial, prelatic, priest-ridden, priestish, priestly, professional, rabbinic, reverend, sacerdotal, secretarial, stenographic, ultramontaneROGET THESAURUS
clerical
Churchdom
N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.For further exploring for "clerical" in Webster Dictionary Online
