presbyteress
noun
pres·by·ter·ess
ˈprezbətərə̇s
plural -es
1
a
: the wife of a presbyter or priest in one of the early medieval churches
especially
: one coming under the operation of the rule requiring the continence of clergymen
b
obsolete
: a priest's concubine
2
: a woman serving as a presbyter or elder in one of the early medieval churches : one of a body of aged widows dedicated to the service of the church and constituting an ecclesiastical order
3
: the wife of a priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Dictionary Entries Near presbyteress
Cite this Entry
“Presbyteress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presbyteress. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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