English
priest
Priest comes from Middle English prest ‘a member of the Christian clergy’, from Late Latin presbyter ‘elder, presbyter’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek πρέσβυς.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρέσβυςprésbus‘elder, older’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρεσβύτεροςpresbúteros
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEpresbyter‘elder, presbyter’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150prēostnext step skipped: Old French prestre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prest‘a member of the Christian clergy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1610priest
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρέσβυςprésbus‘elder, older’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρεσβύτεροςpresbúteros
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEpresbyter‘elder, presbyter’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150prēostnext step skipped: Old French prestre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prest‘a member of the Christian clergy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1610priest
Earliest quotation: 1610, Alexander Cooke, Pope Joane: “If there bee any lasie fellow, any that cannot…”
The story
Reinforced in Middle English by Old French prestre, also from Latin presbyter.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pres ‘before, in front’
through Late Latin presbyter ‘elder, presbyter’
through Middle English prest ‘a member of the Christian clergy’
Today it means
noun A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek πρέσβυς / priest