presbytery

English

Etymology

From Middle English presbetory, presbytory (“part of church reserved for clergy”), from Late Latin presbyterium (“group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy”), from Ancient Greek πρεσβῠτέρῐον (presbutérion, “group of presbyters”), from πρεσβῠ́τερος (presbúteros, “elder, priest”) + -ῐον (-ion). Doublet of presbyterium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɛz.bɪ.tɛɹ.i/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

presbytery (plural presbyteries)

1. The home of a Roman Catholic parish priest.

   Synonym: rectory

2. A body of elders in the early Christian church.
3. A chancel; a section of the church reserved for the clergy.
4. Presbyters collectively; the body of presbyters of a congregation.
5. The district (jurisdiction) of those presbyters.

Synonyms

• (architecture): presbyterium

Derived terms

• Presbyterian

Translations

a body of church elders

• Catalan: presbiteri (ca) m
• Greek:

  Ancient: πρεσβυτέριον n (presbutérion)

• Indonesian: pastoran (id)
• Italian: presbiterio (it) m
• Maori: perehepetere
• Polish: prezbiterium (pl) n
• Portuguese: presbitério (pt) m
• Romanian: prezbiteriu (ro) n
• Spanish: presbiterio (es) m

chancel — see chancel