presbyteress
noun
pres·by·ter·ess
ˈprezbətərə̇s
plural -es
1
a
: the wife of a presbyter or priest in one of the early medieval churches
especially : one coming under the operation of the rule requiring the continence of clergymen
b
obsolete : a priest's concubine
2
: a woman serving as a presbyter or elder in one of the early medieval churches : one of a body of aged widows dedicated to the service of the church and constituting an ecclesiastical order
3
: the wife of a priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Word History
Etymology
partial translation of Medieval Latin presbyterissa, from presbyter priest (from Late Latin, presbyter, elder) + Late Latin -issa -ess