anti-clerical

The term is a modern compound, formed in the 19th century from established English elements to describe a specific political and intellectual stance. The prefix "anti-," of Greek origin, has been a productive component in English since the 17th century for denoting opposition. It is attached to "clerical," an adjective derived from the Latin clericus (clergyman), which itself comes from the Greek klērikos, pertaining to an inheritance or lot, and by extension, to the clergy as God's allotted portion. Thus, the word's literal construction of "against-the-clergy" directly and logically conveys its modern meaning of opposition to ecclesiastical power in public life.

Structure: anti (against) + clerical (relating to the clergy) - anti: From Greek, via Latin and French. A prefix meaning "against," "opposite of," or "preventative." - clerical: From Late Latin clericalis, from Latin clericus (clergyman). An adjective-forming suffix indicating relation or pertaining to.