presbyter

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pres=by=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

presbyter, n. [L. an elder, fr. Gr. . See Priest.].

•  An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1.  [1913 Webster]
•  One ordained to the second order in the ministry; -- called also priest.  [1913 Webster]

  "I rather term the one sort presbyter than priest."  [1913 Webster]

  "New presbyter is but old priest writ large."  [1913 Webster]
•  A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical.  [1913 Webster]
•  A Presbyterian.  Hudibras.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

presbyter, n.
1 an elder in the early Christian Church.
2 (in the Episcopal Church) a minister of the second order; a priest.
3 (in the Presbyterian Church) an elder.

Derivative

presbyteral adj. presbyterate n. presbyterial adj. presbytership n.

Etymology

eccl.L f. Gk presbuteros elder, compar. of presbus old

ROGET THESAURUS

presbyter

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.