/prez"bi ter'ee, pres"-/ , n. , pl. presbyteries .
1. a body of presbyters or elders.
2. (in Presbyterian churches) an ecclesiastical court consisting of all the ministers and one or two presbyters from each congregation in a district.
3. the churches under the jurisdiction of a presbytery.
4. the part of a church appropriated to the clergy.
5. Rom. Cath. Ch. a rectory.
[ 1375-1425; late ME presbetory, presbitory priests' bench, for LL presbyterium group of elders presbytérion. See PRESBYTER, -Y 3 ]