presbyter

1 of 2

noun (1)

pres·​by·​ter ˈprez-bə-tər 

ˈpres-

1

: a member of the governing body of an early Christian church

2

: a member of the order of priests in churches having episcopal hierarchies that include bishops, priests, and deacons

3

: elder sense 3b

presbyterate

prez-ˈbi-tə-rət 

pres-, 

-ˌrāt

noun

presbyterate

2 of 2

noun (2)

pres·​byt·​er·​ate

-ˌrāt

plural -s

1

: a body of presbyters or elders : presbytery sense 2

2

: the office or position of a presbyter or elder

Examples of presbyter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This would be the case also for an apostate, heretic, schismatic bishop, presbyter, or deacon. — Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021

Before coming to Birmingham, Webster had served 18 years as executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca in southern New Mexico. — Greg Garrison, AL.com, 19 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Late Latin, elder, priest, from Greek presbyteros, comparative of presbys old man, elder; akin to Greek pro before and Greek bainein to go — more at for, come

Noun (2)

Late Latin presbyteratus office of a presbyter, from presbyter + Latin -atus -ate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for presbyter

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

presbyter

noun

pres·​by·​ter ˈprez-bət-ər 

ˈpres-

: a member of the governing body of an early Christian church