Word Study
sacerdotal
CIDE DICTIONARY
sacerdotal, a. [L. sacerdotalis, fr. sacerdos, -otis, a priest, fr. sacer holy, sacred: cf. F. sacerdotal.].
Of or pertaining to priests, or to the order of priests; relating to the priesthood; priesty; as, sacerdotal dignity; sacerdotal functions. [1913 Webster]
"The ascendency of the sacerdotal order was long the ascendency which naturally and properly belongs to intellectual superiority." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sacerdotal, adj.
1 of priests or the priestly office; priestly.
2 (of a doctrine etc.) ascribing sacrificial functions and supernatural powers to ordained priests; claiming excessive authority for the priesthood.
1 of priests or the priestly office; priestly.
2 (of a doctrine etc.) ascribing sacrificial functions and supernatural powers to ordained priests; claiming excessive authority for the priesthood.
Derivative
sacerdotalism n. sacerdotalist n. sacerdotally adv.
Etymology
ME f. OF sacerdotal or L sacerdotalis f. sacerdos -dotis priest
THESAURUS
sacerdotal
abbatial, abbatical, apostolic, archiepiscopal, canonical, capitular, capitulary, ceremonial, ceremonious, churchly, clerical, conventional, decorous, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical, episcopal, episcopalian, evangelistic, hieratic, liturgic, ministerial, papal, pastoral, pompous, prelatial, prelatic, priest-ridden, priestish, priestly, rabbinic, religious, ritual, ritualistic, solemn, stately, ultramontane, well-manneredROGET THESAURUS
sacerdotal
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 "sacerdotal" in Webster Dictionary Online