priest
UK[priːst]US[priːst]
n
A person who is qualified to perform religious duties and ceremonies in some religions, especially Christianity.
Etymology
The English word 'priest' descends from the Old English 'prēost', which itself was borrowed from the Late Latin 'presbyter', meaning 'elder'. This Latin term originated from the Greek 'presbyteros', the comparative form of 'presbys' (old man), literally meaning 'older' or 'more senior'. The semantic journey reflects the early Christian church's structure, where leadership roles were held by respected elders, a concept and title that passed through Greek ecclesiastical language into Latin and then into the Germanic languages, eventually simplifying in form to denote a ordained religious minister.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its core form 'priest' functions as a single, unanalyzable unit in modern English.
Examples
The priest led the congregation in prayer.
She went to speak with the priest about her concerns.
In many traditions, a priest performs rituals and offers spiritual guidance.