parish

par·ish

noun \ˈper-ish, ˈpa-rish\

Definition of PARISH

1

a (1) : the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor (2) : the residents of such an area

b British : a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government

2

: a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church

3

: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states

Examples of PARISH

1. The parish will be getting a new priest soon.
2. The parish has grown significantly in the last three years.

Origin of PARISH

Middle English parisshe, from Anglo-French paroche, parosse, from Late Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, from Greek, stranger, from para- + oikos house — more at vicinity

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Rhymes with PARISH

marish