presbytery[prez′bə ter′ē, pres′-]
- Presbyterian Ch.
- a body of presbyters; specif., an ecclesiastical court and governing body consisting of the minister and representative elders from each church in a district
- the district of such a court
- the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy
- R.C.Ch., Now Rare a priest's house; rectory
Origin of presbyteryMiddle English presbetory ; from Old French presbiterie ; from Ecclesiastical Late Latin presbyterium, council of elders ; from Ecclesiastical Greek presbyterion ; from Classical Greek presbyteros, elder: see priest
- a. A court composed of Presbyterian Church ministers and representative elders of a particular locality.b. The district represented by this court.
- Presbyters considered as a group.
- Government of a church by presbyters.
- The section of a church reserved for the clergy.
- Roman Catholic Church The residence of a priest.
Origin of presbyteryMiddle English presbetory, priests' bench, from Late Latin presbyterium, council of elders, from Greek presbuterion, from presbuteros, elder; see presbyter.
presbyter +"Ž -y