clergycler‧gy /ˈklɜːdʒi $ ˈklɜːr-/ noun 
Word Origin
Word OriginWORD ORIGINclergy
ExamplesOrigin:
1200-1300 Old French clergie, from clerc; ➔ CLERK1EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Collocations- But while they defended against outsiders, a new enemy came from their own clergy ranks.
- He sets the clergy against each other in rivalry for his favours.
- In 1294-7, it has been calculated, the laity and clergy together yielded £280,000 in direct taxes to the king.
- It also provided approximately 40% of the stipends and housing costs of the 11,500 serving clergy.
- It was the corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy in medieval times that paved the way for the Reformation.
- Praise will be led by the clergy and choir of Holywood Parish Church.
- The saintly Vicar of Keyingham, Philip of Beverley, who did much for local clergy, was venerated as a saint.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► catholic
Phrases· The concern of Roman catholic clergy about the system was not without grounds.· The Catholic clergy is sincere in its opposition to all abortion, by whatever procedure.· The Catholic clergy became more exclusive as the Gregorian Reform was accomplished.· It was the corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy in medieval times that paved the way for the Reformation.· At all large services of a community nature he tried to ensure that both Protestant and Catholic clergy took part.
► high· The papal reform tended to drive a wedge between the educated, celibate higher clergy, and the rank and file.· Moreover, some of the riots were incited by local High Church clergy and gentry.
► local· He was asking local people for money and also approached local clergy.· A single nun, working in an unorthodox manner in the slums, made some of the local clergy distinctly uncomfortable.· The saintly Vicar of Keyingham, Philip of Beverley, who did much for local clergy, was venerated as a saint.· Moreover, some of the riots were incited by local High Church clergy and gentry.· A January Party report in Roslavl' noted with glee that the local clergy were divided, even before the February decree.· He was welcomed by the local clergy and a great number of other leading figures in the community.· Parents, teachers, and local clergy are campaigning to have the decision reversed.
► low· The role of defending the Church was assumed by the lower clergy, their chief spokesman being Francis Atterbury.· The household of the skilled potter became in income terms the equal of that of the lower clergy.· Thus the liberalism of 1808 could hope for the support of the intelligent lower clergy.
► roman· The concern of Roman catholic clergy about the system was not without grounds.· It was the corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy in medieval times that paved the way for the Reformation.
► senior· The policy of Decius's successor Valerian was to execute bishops and senior clergy so as to leave the Church leaderless.· I think the idea was that a senior clergy should keep an eye on him, help him and so on.· Theodora watched the senior clergy failing to respond.· In recent years, the Kirk's senior clergy have consistently attacked Tory policies.
NOUN► parish· All authority, both of chapter and parish clergy derives from the bishop.· The parish clergy had to give up their concubines and accept a higher degree of accountability for performance of their duties.· Very high among Innocent III's ambitions was the improvement of the parish clergy.· Other monks of the house became parish clergy.
► wife· Wives shouldn't talk thus about their husbands, she thought resentfully, especially when they were clergy wives.· We simply do not have the structures or the resources to give proper pastoral care to clergy wives.· Between 60 and 70 percent of Salisbury's clergy wives now work, and the church hierarchy encourages them to.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the clergy
the clergy [plural] the official leaders of religious activities in organized religions, such as priests, rabbis, and mullahs → clerical- Many members of the clergy were murdered during the civil war.