Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

(?; 277)

Adj.

[L.

ecclesiasticus

, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] an assembly of citizens called out by the crier; also, the church, fr. [GREEK] called out, fr. [GREEK] to call out;

ἐκ

out + [GREEK] to call. See

, and

Verb.

Of or pertaining to the church. See

“Ecclesiastic government.”

Swift.

Noun.

A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest.

From a humble

ecclesiastic

, he was subsequently preferred to the highest dignities of the church.

Prescott.