PRESBYTERY

noun (plural -teries) Etymology: Middle English & Late Latin; Middle English presbytory part of church reserved for clergy, from Late Latin presbyterium group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy, from Greek presbyterion group of presbyters, from presbyteros elder, priest Date: 15th century the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy, a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and representative elders from congregations within a district, the jurisdiction of a ~, the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest