clergé

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French clergié, from Old French, from Late Latin clēricātus, from clēricus. Compare Italian chiericato.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klɛʁ.ʒe/

• Audio

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Noun

clergé m (plural clergés)

1. clergy (body of persons, such as priests, who are trained and ordained for religious service)

   Synonym: (pejorative) cléricaille

Derived terms

• bas clergé
• haut clergé

Related terms

• clerc
• clérical

Further reading

• “clergé”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.