Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

paterissa

noun
Save Word
pat·​er·​is·​sa | \ ˌpatəˈrisə \
plural -s

Definition of paterissa

Eastern Church
: a crosier surmounted by a small cross from whose base issue two serpents

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for paterissa

New Greek pateritsa, from Middle Greek pateriza, perhaps diminutive of Greek pater-, patēr father

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about paterissa

Statistics for paterissa

Cite this Entry

“Paterissa.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paterissa. Accessed 9 December 2019.

Comments on paterissa

What made you want to look up paterissa? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

oxymoron

Listen to the pronounciation of oxymoron

contradictory or incongruous words

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games