archpriestn.
/ˈɑːtʃˈpriːst/ a. A chief priest; spec. in early times, as still in the Italian Church, a kind of vicar to the bishop, acting also as dean of the cathedral; later, a rural dean. Also, the title of the superior of the Roman Catholic clergy in England from 1598 to 1623.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > archpriest > [noun]
archpriest1485
archpresbyter1562
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. bv/2 Another whyche named hym self Dauyd archepreest.
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. i. ii. i. 15 Our deanerie churches..now called mother churches and their incumbents archpreests.
1710 London Gaz. mmmmdccxvi/1 The Cardinal Marescotti is chosen Arch-Priest of St. Peter's Church.
1854 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 9 185/2 The Rectory of Haccombe..gives to its incumbent for the time being the dignity of Arch-priest of the diocese [of Exeter].
b. transferred or figurative.
ΚΠ
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) III. vii. 193 Whitfield their archpriest..preaching his funeral sermon.
1866 Daily Tel. 26 Jan. 4/6 The archpriest of agitation, O'Connell.
Derivatives
archˈpriesthood n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > archpriest > [noun] > office of archpriest
archpriestship1560
archflamenship1640
archpriesthood1670
archipresbyterate1915
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. ii. 49 Contending somtimes about the archpriesthood.
1881 Athenæum 27 Aug. 268/1 The archpriesthood of the collegiate church of Sta. Maria Maggiore.
archˈpriestship n. obsolete the position or office of an arch-priest.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > archpriest > [noun] > office of archpriest
archpriestship1560
archflamenship1640
archpriesthood1670
archipresbyterate1915
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxxvj Whiche do vtterly contemne..archepreistship.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 512 Libels against the Archpriestship.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
n.1485