Where does “priesthood” come from?
Priesthood comes from Old English prēosthād, a compound of prēost and hād meaning the state or condition of being a priest.
priesthood (English): The role or office of a priest; Priests as a...
Definitions
- The role or office of a priest; Priests as a...
Ancestry of “priesthood”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | presthed | — |
| 2 | Old English | prēosthād | priesthood |
| 3 | Old English | prēost | priest |
| 4 | Latin | presbyter | an elder, presbyter |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πρεσβύτερος | older of two people; advanced in life, senior; a... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πρέσβυς | elderly, aged; old man; elder, chief, prince |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |