presbyter

Contents

English

Etymology

From Late Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros), from πρέσβυς (présbus, “elder, older”). Doublet of prester.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹezbɪtə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹezbɪtɚ/, /ˈpɹesbɪtɚ/

Noun

presbyter (plural presbyters)

1. A priest in various churches.
2. An elder of the Presbyterian church.
3. An elder of the congregation in early Christianity.

Related terms

• presbytera
• presbyterate
• presbytery

Translations

priest in various churches

• Armenian: երեց (hy) (erecʿ)
• Breton: beleg (br) m
• French: prêtre (fr) m

• Latin: presbyter m
• Polish: prezbiter (pl) m, kapłan (pl) m
• Spanish: presbítero (es) m

References

• presbyter in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈpres.by.ter/, [ˈprɛs.bʏ.tɛr]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈpres.bi.ter/

Noun

presbyter m (genitive presbyterī); second declension

1. (Late Latin, Christianity) an elder, presbyter

Inflection

Second declension, nominative singular in -er.

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	presbyter	presbyterī
genitive	presbyterī	presbyterōrum
dative	presbyterō	presbyterīs
accusative	presbyterum	presbyterōs
ablative	presbyterō	presbyterīs
vocative	presbyter1	presbyterī

¹May also be presbytere.

Derived terms

• presbytera
• presbyterātus

Related terms

• presbyterium

Descendants

• Albanian: prift
• Aromanian: preftu
• Catalan: prevere
• Corsican: preti
• Dalmatian: priast
• Emilian: prît
• English: presbyter, prester, priest
• French: prêtre
• Friulian: predi
• Italian: prete
• Neapolitan: prevete, preote
• Occitan: preire, preveire, prestre

• Old French: prestre, provoire
• Old Welsh: primter
  • Primitive Irish: ᚊᚏᚔᚋᚔᚈᚔᚏ (qrimitir)
    • Old Irish: cruimther
      • Irish: cruimhthir
      • Scottish Gaelic: cruimthear
• Romanian: preot
• Romansch: prer, prear, preir
• Sardinian: preide, prede, predi
• Sicilian: prèviti
• Spanish: preste
• Venetian: prète, prèvede, pre

References

• presbyter in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• presbyter in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[1], pre-publication website, 2005-2016