clergy

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word clergy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word clergy, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say clergy in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word clergy you have here. The definition of the word clergy will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofclergy, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergié (“learned men”), from Late Latin clēricātus, from Latin clēricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós, “of the clergy”).

Pronunciation

Noun

clergy (plural clergies)

  1. Body of persons, such as priests, who are trained and ordained for religious service.
    Today we brought together clergy from the Wiccan, Christian, New Age and Islamic traditions for an interfaith dialogue.
    • 1918, W B Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
      Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.

Derived terms

Translations

References

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia