■ noun
1》 an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments.
↘a person who performs ceremonies in a non-Christian religion.
2》 a mallet used to kill fish caught when angling.
■ verb formal ordain to the ~hood.
Derivatives
~hood noun
~liness noun
~ly adjective
Origin
OE prēost , of Gmc origin, based on eccles. L. presbyter ; sense 2 of the noun alludes to the ~'s function in performing the last rites.