sacerdotal

the word 'sacerdotal' has a direct lineage from latin, entering english in the late middle period. its core component, sacerdos, is itself a compound from latin sacer ('sacred, holy') and the root of dare ('to give'), thus literally meaning 'one who gives or performs sacred rites'. the suffix -alis was routinely attached to nouns to form adjectives. therefore, the etymological logic moves from the literal 'pertaining to one who gives sacred things' to the modern, more abstract sense of anything relating to the office, character, or functions of a priest.

Structure: sacerdot (priest) + al (adjective suffix) sacerdot (from latin sacerdos, sacerdot- meaning 'priest'), al (from latin -alis, an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'of, relating to').