— presbyteral /prez bit"euhr euhl, pres-/ , adj.
/prez"bi teuhr, pres"-/ , n.
1. (in the early Christian church) an office bearer who exercised teaching, priestly, and administrative functions.
2. (in hierarchical churches) a priest.
3. an elder in a Presbyterian church.
[ 1590-1600; presbýteros, equiv. to présby ( s ) old + -teros comp. suffix ]