I. ˈparish, -rēsh also ˈper- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English paroche, parosshe, parisshe, from Middle French parroche, paroisse, from Late Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian (from Greek, stranger, from par- para- (I) + oikos house) + -ia -y; from the early Christians' looking upon themselves as strangers on earth, their real home being heaven — more at vicinity
1.
a. : the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor ; collectively : the residents of such area or the members of one church
b. Britain : a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government
2. : a portion of a diocese committed to the pastoral care of one clergyman
3. : a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church
4. : society 3b(2)
5. : a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states
6. : house 3d — see curling illustration
II. ˈparish
dialect
variant of perish