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presbytery

noun
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pres·​by·​tery | \ ˈprez-bə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce presbytery (audio) , ˈpres-, -bə-trē \
plural presbyteries

Definition of presbytery

1 : the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy
2 : a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and representative elders from congregations within a district
3 : the jurisdiction of a presbytery
4 : the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest

Examples of presbytery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On the road into the city from Melbourne, the state capital, the red brick Gothic-like presbytery of St. Alipius immediately stands out. — Jacqueline Williams, New York Times, "Cardinal George Pell’s Hometown Breaks Its Silence About Grim Past of Sexual Abuse," 29 Apr. 2018 After carefully filling an ancient presbytery near France’s Loire Valley with a personal library of no fewer than 35,000 volumes, he was compelled to pack them all up again in preparation for a move to a New York apartment. — Ernest Hilbert, WSJ, "‘Packing My Library,’ ‘The Book: An Homage’ and ‘Unpacking My Library’ Reviews: Putting Your Self on a Shelf," 13 Apr. 2018 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Churches merge, close: 'We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past'," 10 Oct. 2017 The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Churches merge, close: 'We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past'," 10 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'presbytery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of presbytery

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for presbytery

Middle English & Late Latin; Middle English presbytory part of church reserved for clergy, from Late Latin presbyterium group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy, from Greek presbyterion group of presbyters, from presbyteros elder, priest

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The first known use of presbytery was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Presbytery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presbytery. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for presbytery

presbytery

noun
How to pronounce presbytery (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of presbytery

: a group of ministers and elders who are the leaders of the Presbyterian churches in a particular area
: the house where a Roman Catholic priest lives

See the full definition for presbytery in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on presbytery

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for presbytery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presbytery

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