Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

presbyteress

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: pres-byter-ess
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A presbyter or priest's wife.

noun

A female presbyter (elder of the congregation in early Christianity).

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"Even a special blessing was included within the liturgy for the wives of married men on the day of their husband's ordination in the sixth century. These women were called presbyteresses (presbyterissae) and were entitled to wear special dress."
"Age was doubtless a requisite in presbyters, as it is here stated to have been in presbyteresses, with a view to their influence on the younger persons of their sex. They were supported by the Church, but not the only widows so supported."

Etymology

From Medieval Latin presbyterissa. By surface analysis, presbyter + -ess. Piecewise doublet of priestess.

Word Breakdown

Root: presbyterissa

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

presbyteresses (plural)

Synonyms

presbytera priestess

Questions

What does presbyteress mean?: A presbyter or priest's wife.
Where does presbyteress come from?: From Medieval Latin presbyterissa. By surface analysis, presbyter + -ess. Piecewise doublet of priestess.

How to pronounce presbyteress

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