pres·by·ter·y 
(pr
ĕz
b
ĭ-t
ĕr
′ē, pr
ĕs
-)
n. pl. pres·by·ter·ies 1. a. A court composed of Presbyterian Church ministers and representative elders of a particular locality.
b. The district represented by this court.
2. Presbyters considered as a group.
3. Government of a church by presbyters.
4. The section of a church reserved for the clergy.
5. Roman Catholic Church The residence of a priest.
[Middle English presbetory, priests' bench, from Late Latin presbyterium, council of elders, from Greek presbuterion, from presbuteros, elder; see PRESBYTER.]