archpriest

noun

arch·​priest (ˌ)ärch-ˈprēst How to pronounce archpriest (audio)
: a priest of preeminent rank

Examples of archpriest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On this cloudless afternoon, beneath a gossamer canopy of pine trees, archpriest Bogdan Dumindiak has finished a graveside service for a grandmother killed in the apartment attack. Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2023 Before the general populace were allowed into the basilica, prayers were recited and the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, sprinkled holy water over the body. Fox News, 3 Jan. 2023 Before the rank-and-file faithful were allowed into the basilica, prayers were recited and the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, sprinkled holy water over the body, and a small cloud of incense was released near the bier. Time, 2 Jan. 2023 Don Giuseppe Berardelli, 72, was the archpriest of Casnigo, a town in northern Italy about 50 miles northeast of Milan. Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2020 Law moved to Italy to serve as archpriest of the Papal Liberian Basilica of St. Mary Major after he was forced to resign in 2002 as archbishop of Boston. Laura Smith-Spark and Delia Gallagher, CNN, 21 Dec. 2017 The church, one of Rome’s four great ancient basilicas, is where Cardinal Law had the honor of serving for more than a decade, first in 2004 as archpriest and, after his retirement in 2011, as archpriest emeritus. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2017 In 2004, he was appointed archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of four principal basilicas in Rome. Bloomberg.com, 20 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'archpriest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of archpriest was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near archpriest

Cite this Entry

“Archpriest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archpriest. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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