Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
| abbacy | the office of abbot. |
| abbatial | pertaining to abbots or an abbey. |
| abbe | (Fr.) a courtesy title given in France to every one vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress. |
| abbess | a female abbot, head of a nunnery. |
| abbot | the superior of a monastery. |
| abbotcy | the office of abbot. |
| abbotship | the office of abbot. |
| ablegate | a papal envoy or legate. |
| acoemeti | (Greek) an ancient monastic order who maintained an eternal choir service. |
| acolouthite | (Obs.) an acolyte. |
| alfaki | (Arabic) a Muslim expounder of the law. |
| alfaqui | (Arabic) a Muslim expounder of the law. |
| alfaquin | (Arabic) a Muslim expounder of the law. |
| anchoress | a female anchorite, one who lives in seclusion, usually for religious reasons. |
| anchoret | one who lives in seclusion, usually for religious reasons. |
| anchoretic | of or like an anchoret. |
| anchoretical | of or like an anchoret. |
| anchorite | one who lives in seclusion, usually for religious reasons. |
| anchoritic | of or like an anchorite. |
| anchoritical | of or like an anchorite. |
| anchoritically | (Adv.) ANCHORITICAL, like an anchorite. |
| ancress | a female anchorite, one who lives in seclusion, usually for religious reasons. |
| anointer | one who anoints. |
| antipope | one who is elected, or claims to be, pope in opposition to the pope canonically chosen; esp applied to those popes who resided at Avignon during the Great Schism. |
| apocalyptist | the writer of an apocalypse. |
| apostle | a disciple sent forth by Christ to preach the gospel. |
| apostleship | the state of being an apostle. |
| apostolate | the office of an apostle. |
| apostolic | relating to the office of apostle. |
| apostolical | relating to the office of apostle. |
| apostolically | (Adv.) APOSTOLICAL, relating to the office of apostle. |
| archbishop | a bishop at the head of an ecclesiastical province or one of equivalent honorary rank. |
| archdeacon | a clergyman having the duty of assisting a diocesan bishop in ceremonial functions or administrative work. |
| archdruid | a chief or presiding druid. |
| archidiaconate | the office of archdeacon. |
| archiepiscopacy | the rank or province of an archbishop. |
| archimandrite | the head of a monastery or convent. |
| archpriest | a chief priest. |
| arhat | (Sanskrit) a Buddhist who has attained nirvana. |
| arhatship | the state of being an arhat, a Buddhist who has attained nirvana. |
| ayatollah | (Arabic) an Iranian religious leader. |
| bacchant | a priest of Bacchus. |
| bacchante | a priestess of Bacchus. |
| baptizer | one who baptizes. |
| bapu | (Hindi) a spiritual father. |
| beadman | (Obs.) a monk or almoner who prays for a benefactor. |
| beadsman | (Obs.) a monk or almoner who prays for a benefactor. |
| beadswoman | a female beadsman, a monk or almoner who prays for a benefactor. |
| bedeman | (Obs.) a monk or almoner who prays for a benefactor. |
| bedesman | a monk or almoner who prays for a benefactor. |
| beghard | (Fr.) in Flanders, a man living a monastic life without vows and with power to return to the world. |
| beguin | (Fr.) in Flanders, a man living a monastic life without vows and with power to return to the world. |
| bhikhu | (Pali) a fully ordained Buddhist monk. |
| bhikkhuni | (Pali) a fully ordained Buddhist monk. |
| biblicist | one skilled in the knowledge of the Bible. |
| bibliolater | one having excessive reverence for the Bible as literally interpreted; one with extravagant devotion to or dependence upon books. |
| biblist | one who makes the Bible the sole rule of faith. |
| bishopdom | the jurisdiction of a bishop. |
| bishopess | a female bishop. |
| bishopric | the diocese or jurisdiction of a bishop; the rank or office of a bishop. |
| boddhisattva | one who gives up Nirvana out of compassion for others. |
| bodhisattva | one who gives up Nirvana out of compassion for others. |
| bonze | (Japanese) a Japanese or Chinese Buddhist religious teacher. |
| cabalist | (Hebrew) one who practises cabalism. |
| cabbalist | one who practices cabbalism. |
| caloyer | (Fr.) a Greek Orthodox monk, esp of the order of St Basil. |
| camerlengo | (Ital.) the papal chamberlain; the cardinal who presides over the pope's household. |
| camerlingo | (Ital.) the papal chamberlain; the cardinal who presides over the pope's household. |
| canon | a member of an order of clergy living in a clergy-house or within the precincts of a cathedral etc. in accordance with the canons of the church. |
| canoness | a woman living in a community under a religious rule. |
| canonicate | the rank or office of a canon. |
| canoniser | one who canonises. |
| canonizer | one who canonises. |
| cantor | (Lat.) a singer; esp the leader of a church choir. |
| cardinal | of fundamental importance (noun) one of the leading dignitaries of the Catholic church |
| cardinalatial | relating to a cardinal or to the office of cardinal. |
| cardinalitial | relating to a cardinal or to the office of cardinal. |
| cardinally | (Adv.) CARDINAL, of fundamental importance. |
| cardinalship | the office of cardinal. |
| cartulary | a keeper of monastic records. |
| catechiser | one who catechises. |
| catechist | one who instructs by question and answer, esp in religious matters. |
| catechizer | one who catechizes. |
| catholicos | (Greek) the Primate of the Armenian or Nestorian church. |
| cellarer | a monastery official in charge of provisions. |
| cellarist | a monastery official in charge of provisions. |
| cenobite | a monk who lives in a community. |
| cenobitic | of or like a cenobite. |
| cenobitical | of or like a cenobite. |
| centuriator | one of a group of 16c Reformed divines of Magdeburg who compiled a church history in 13 volumes, each volume covering a century. |
| chaplain | a Christian clergyman attached to an institution, establishment, organization or family. |
| chaplaincy | the office of chaplain. |
| chaplainry | the office of chaplain. |
| chaplainship | the office of chaplain. |
| chazan | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| chazzan | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| chazzen | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| chela | (Lat.) the claw of an arthropod a novice or disciple in Buddhism |
| chelaship | discipleship. |
| chorepiscopal | pertaining to a local or suffragan bishp of the early Church. |
| churchman | a clergyman or ecclesiastic. |
| churchmanly | in the manner of a churchman. |
| churchwarden | one of two lay parish officers in Anglican churches with responsibility esp for parish property and alms. |
| churchwoman | a woman who is a member of a church. |
| clergy | the body of persons ordained for religious service. |
| clergyman | one who works for the church. |
| clergywoman | a woman who is a member of the clergy. |
| cleric | a member of the clergy. |
| clerical | like a cleric. |
| clerically | (Adv.) CLERICAL, like a cleric. |
| clericate | the position of a clergyman. |
| clericity | the state of being a clergyman. |
| cloistress | (Shakesp.) a nun. |
| coadjutor | a bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and having the right of succession. |
| coadjutress | a female coadjutor. |
| coadjutrix | a female coadjutor or assistant. |
| coenobite | a monk who lives in a community. |
| coenobitic | of or like a coenobite. |
| coenobitical | of or like a coenobite. |
| coenobitism | the state of being a coenobite. |
| cohen | a member of the Jewish priestly class, descended from Aaron, having certain privileges and obligations in the synagogue. |
| colporteur | (Fr.) a peddler of religious books. |
| commendator | a person who holds a benefice in commendam; a titular abbot, etc. |
| conclavist | one of the two ecclesiastics allowed to attend a cardinal in the conclave. |
| confessant | one who confesses to a priest. |
| confessor | one who hears confession. |
| confessoress | a female confessor. |
| confirmand | a candidate for religious confirmation. |
| congregant | a member of a congregation, esp a Jewish one. |
| consultor | an advisor to a Catholic bishop. |
| conventual | of or pertaining to a convent (noun) a monk or nun |
| conventually | (Adv.) CONVENTUAL, of or pertaining to a convent. |
| copastor | one that shares the duties of a pastor. |
| corybant | (Greek) one of the priests of Cybele in Phrygia, whose rites were accompanied by wild music, dancing, etc. |
| corybantism | the rites associated with corybants. |
| curacy | the office of curate. |
| curate | an assistant to a parish priest; (verb) to act as a curate. |
| curateship | the office of curate. |
| curial | relating to a curia, a papal court and its officials. |
| custos | (Lat.) a guardian, custodian or keeper, esp of convents or monasteries. |
| dataria | an officer of the papal court charged with registering and dating bulls etc. and with granting indults and graces. |
| datary | an officer of the papal court charged with registering and dating bulls etc. and with granting indults and graces. |
| dayan | (Hebrew) a senior rabbi. |
| deaconess | a female deacon. |
| deaconhood | the office of deacon. |
| deaconry | the office of deacon. |
| deaconship | the office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess. |
| dean | a dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches who presides over the canons; (verb) to serve as a dean. |
| deanery | the office of a dean. |
| deanship | the office of a dean. |
| decanal | relating to a dean. |
| decanally | (Adv.) DECANAL, relating to a dean. |
| decanically | (Adv.) DECANAL, located on south side of the choir in a church. |
| demonologist | a student of demonology. |
| dervish | (Turkish) a Muslim (spec. Sufi) religious man who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. |
| diaconal | of or pertaining to a deacon. |
| diaconate | the office of a deacon. |
| dignitary | someone in a high position or rank, esp in the church. |
| diocesan | the bishop of a diocese. |
| diocese | the circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction. |
| domine | a member of the clergy, a pastor; esp a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church. |
| dominee | a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church or other Afrikaner church. |
| druid | a Celtic priest. |
| druidess | a female druid. |
| druidic | pertaining to, or resembling, the Druids. |
| druidical | pertaining to, or resembling, the Druids. |
| druidry | the profession of druid. |
| ecclesiast | an ecclesiastic. |
| ecclesiastic | relating to the church or to the clergy; (noun) a person consecrated to the church, such as a priest or a clergyman. |
| energumen | (Obs.) a person supposedly possessed by an evil spirit. |
| episcopant | (Milton) a holder of a bishopric. |
| episcopate | a bishopric; the office and dignity of a bishop; (verb, Milton) to act as a bishop. |
| episcopise | to make a bishop of by consecration. |
| episcopize | to make a bishop of by consecration. |
| epistoler | the reader of the epistle in an Anglican service. |
| eremital | of or like an eremite, a hermit, esp a religious recluse. |
| eremite | a hermit, esp. a religious recluse. |
| eremitish | like an eremite, a hermit. |
| evangelist | a writer of any of the four Gospels. |
| exarch | a viceroy; the rank below patriarch in the Eastern church. |
| exarchal | relating to an exarch, the rank below patriarch in the Eastern church. |
| exarchate | the office or the province of an exarch, the rank below patriarch in the Eastern church. |
| exarchist | a supporter of the Bulgarian exarch. |
| expiator | one who makes expiation or atonement. |
| fakeer | (Arabic) a Hindu ascetic. |
| fakir | (Arabic) a Hindu ascetic. |
| fakirism | being a fakir, a Hindu ascetic. |
| faqir | (Arabic) a Hindu ascetic. |
| faquir | (Arabic) a Hindu ascetic. |
| fecial | (Lat.) in ancient Rome, a member of a group of priests who acted as heralds and performed the rites connected with the declaration of war and conclusion of peace. |
| fetial | (Lat.) in ancient Rome, a member of a group of priests who acted as heralds and performed the rites connected with the declaration of war and conclusion of peace. |
| fetialis | (Lat.) in ancient Rome, a member of a group of priests who acted as heralds and performed the rites connected with the declaration of war and conclusion of peace. |
| flamen | (Lat.) a priest of a Roman deity. |
| flaminical | pertaining to a flamen, a priest of a Roman deity. |
| frate | (Ital.) a friar, a mendicant Franciscan. |
| frater | (Lat.) a monk; also, a frater house. |
| fratery | a fraternity; a convent of friars. |
| fratry | a fraternity; a convent of friars. |
| frere | a friar. |
| friar | a member of a religious order. |
| friarly | resembling or characteristic of a friar. |
| friary | an establishment for friars. |
| gooroo | (Hindi) in Hinduism, a spiritual teacher. |
| gospeler | one of the four evangelists. |
| gospeller | one of the four evangelists. |
| guru | (Hindi) in Hinduism, a spiritual teacher. |
| gurudom | the state of being a guru. |
| guruism | the system of having gurus. |
| guruship | the state of being a guru. |
| gyrovague | a monk who travels from one place to another. |
| hagadist | (Hebrew) a scholar versed in the haggadah, the Pesach guidebook, used during Seder. |
| haggadist | a scholar versed in the haggadah. |
| hagiologist | one who writes saints' lives. |
| hakam | (Hebrew) a sage, a rabbinical commentator. |
| halachist | a practioner of Jewish religious law. |
| halakhist | a practioner of Jewish religious law. |
| hazan | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| hazzan | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| hebdomadary | a member of a chapter or convent, who takes his or her weekly turn in performing the sacred offices of the Church. |
| hegumen | the head of a monastery. |
| hegumene | the head of a nunnery. |
| hegumenos | (Greek) the head of a monastery. |
| hegumeny | the office of hegumen, the head of a monastery. |
| heortologist | one who practises heortology, the study of religious feasts. |
| heresiarch | the leader of a heretical movement. |
| heresiographer | a person who writes about heresies. |
| hermit | a recluse. |
| hermitess | a female hermit. |
| hermitic | of or like a hermit. |
| hermitical | of or like a hermit. |
| hermitically | (Adv.) HERMITICAL, pertaining to a hermit. |
| hermitism | the state of being a hermit. |
| hermitry | the state of being a hermit. |
| hieratic | pertaining to priests (noun) the sacred script of ancient Egypt |
| hieratical | pertaining to priests. |
| hieratically | (Adv.) HIERATICAL, pertaining to priests. |
| hierocrat | a governing priest. |
| hierodule | a temple slave in the service of a specified deity. |
| hierodulic | relating to a hierodule, a temple slave in the service of a specified deity. |
| hierogrammat | a writer of sacred records. |
| hierographer | a sacred scribe. |
| hierologist | a student of hierology, the science of sacred matters. |
| hierophant | one who shows or reveals sacred things; a priest. |
| hierophantic | of or like a hierophant. |
| hojatoleslam | an Iranian cleric below the rank of ayatollah. |
| hojatolislam | an Iranian cleric below the rank of ayatollah. |
| houngan | (Haitian) a voodoo priest. |
| hungan | (Haitian) a voodoo priest. |
| hymnographer | one who writes hymns. |
| iconoclast | a breaker or destroyer of images or idols. |
| iconoclastic | lIke an iconoclast. |
| imam | (Arabic) the officer who leads the devotions in a mosque. |
| imaum | (Arabic) the officer who leads the devotions in a mosque. |
| impropriator | a layman who is in possession of a benefice or its revenues. |
| incumbent | imposed on (noun) a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice, or any office |
| incumbently | (Adv.) INCUMBENT. |
| infirmarer | an officer in a mediaeval monastery who was in charge of the infirmary. |
| infirmarian | (Hist.) an officer in a mediaeval monastery who was in charge of the infirmary. |
| internuncio | (Ital.) a messenger between two parties; a low-ranking papal legate. |
| interventor | a mediator in ecclesiastical controversies. |
| kahuna | (Hawaiian) a priest or medicine-man; an expert in any field. |
| khazen | (Hebrew) a cantor in a synagogue. |
| kirkman | a clergyman or officer in a kirk. |
| kohen | a member of the Jewish priestly class, descended from Aaron, having certain privileges and obligations in the synagogue. |
| lama | (Tibetan) a Tibetan monk or priest. |
| lampadary | in the Greek Church, someone who looks after the lamps and carries a lighted taper before the patriarch. |
| lector | (Lat.) a reader, esp in a college or church service. |
| lectorate | the office of lector, a reader, esp in a college or church service. |
| lectorship | the office of lector. |
| lectress | a female lector. |
| legate | an emissary of the pope; (verb) to bequeath. |
| legateship | the office of a legate. |
| legatine | relating to a legate. |
| levite | (Sl.) a clergyman. |
| levitic | of or like a levite or clergyman. |
| levitical | of or like a levite or clergyman. |
| levitically | (Adv.) LEVITICAL, of or pertaining to a levite. |
| limiter | a friar who had a license to beg within certain areas. |
| liturgist | a leader in public worship. |
| lohan | (Sanskrit) a Buddhist who has attained nirvana. |
| lymiter | (Spenser) a friar who had a license to beg within certain areas. |
| maenadic | like a maenad, furious, bacchanalian. |
| maenadically | (Adv.) MAENADIC, like a maenad. |
| mahant | (Hindi) a chief Hindu priest. |
| maharishi | (Sanskrit) a Hindu teacher of mysticism and spiritual knowledge. |
| mahatma | (Sanskrit) a religious adept, a sage. |
| mahatmaism | the state of being a mahatma. |
| marabout | (Fr.) a Muslim hermit or saint or his tomb. |
| martext | an ignorant preacher. |
| mashgiach | (Hebrew) a person who ensures adherence to kosher rules. |
| mashgiah | (Hebrew) a person who ensures adherence to kosher rules. |
| mashiach | (Hebrew) in Judaism, the Messiah. |
| masspriest | a priest retained in chantries to say masses for the dead. |
| maulvi | (Urdu) a teacher in Islam. |
| melamed | (Hebrew) a teacher in a Jewish school. |
| messiah | a hoped-for deliverer. |
| messiahship | the state of being a messiah. |
| messias | (Greek) a hoped-for deliverer. |
| metropolitan | an archbishop holding authority over other bishops. |
| minister | a member of the clergy in certain denominations of the Christian church; (verb) to give aid or service. |
| missionarise | to do missionary work. |
| missionarize | to do missionary work. |
| missionary | a person undertaking a mission and esp a religious mission. |
| missionise | to do missionary work. |
| missioniser | one who does missionary work. |
| missionize | to do missionary work. |
| missionizer | one who does missionary work. |
| mohel | (Hebrew) one who performs circumcisions. |
| mojahedin | fundamentalist Muslim guerrillas. |
| molla | (Arabic) a Muslim learned in theology and law. |
| mollah | (Arabic) a Muslim learned in theology and law. |
| monachal | of or pertaining to monks or a monastic life. |
| monachist | an adherent of monachism. |
| monastic | relating to monks (noun) a monk |
| monastical | of or pertaining to monasteries. |
| monastically | (Adv.) MONASTICAL, of or pertaining to monasteries. |
| monk | a man who is a member of a secluded religious order. |
| monkery | monks in general; monasticism. |
| monkhood | the state or profession of a monk. |
| monkish | pertaining to monks. |
| monkishly | (Adv.) MONKISH, like a monk. |
| monsignor | (Ital.) an honorific title given to a Roman Catholic prelate, officer of the papal court and household, etc. |
| monsignorial | of or like a monsignor. |
| moolah | (Arabic) a Muslim learned in theology and law. |
| moolvi | (Urdu) a teacher in Islam. |
| moolvie | (Urdu) a teacher in Islam. |
| mueddin | (Arabic) the Muslim official who calls the faithful to prayer. |
| muezzin | (Arabic) the Muslim official who calls the faithful to prayer. |
| mujaheddin | (Arabic) Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters. |
| mujahedeen | (Arabic) Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters. |
| mujahedin | (Arabic) Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters. |
| mujahideen | (Arabic) Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters. |
| mujahidin | (Arabic) Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters. |
| mulla | (Arabic) a Muslim learned in theology and law. |
| mullah | (Arabic) a Muslim learned in theology and law; (verb) to inflict a severe defeat upon. |
| mullahism | the system of having mullahs. |
| nonclerical | not clerical. |
| nun | a female member of a religious order. |
| nunciature | the office of a nuncio. |
| nuncio | (Ital.) one who brings tidings; a high-ranking papal legate. |
| nunhood | the state of being a nun. |
| nunlike | like a nun. |
| nunnish | of, pertaining to, or resembling a nun. |
| nunship | the state of being a nun. |
| oblate | flattened at the poles (noun, obs.) a person dedicated to monastic or religious life or work |
| oblately | (Adv.) OBLATE, flattened at the poles. |
| oratorian | a father or priest of an oratory, a Roman Catholic school. |
| ordinand | one who is undertaking ordination. |
| ordinant | ordaining; (noun) a person who ordains or confers holy orders. |
| ordinee | one who is being or has just been ordained. |
| ostiary | a doorkeeper, esp in a church. |
| padre | (Ital.) father; a title given to priests; an army chaplain. |
| papable | likely to, or qualified to, become pope. |
| papacy | the tenure of office of a pope. |
| papal | of or relating to the Pope or the papacy. |
| papalise | to make papal; imbue with papal principles or doctrines. |
| papalism | the system of having a Pope. |
| papalist | an adherent of papalism. |
| papalize | to make papal; imbue with papal principles or doctrines. |
| papally | (Adv.) PAPAL, of or relating to the Pope or the papacy. |
| pape | (Scots) a pope. |
| pardoner | one who raises money for religious works by selling indulgences. |
| parson | a clergyman. |
| parsonic | of or pertaining to a parson. |
| parsonical | of or pertaining to a parson. |
| parsonish | appropriate to, or like, a parson. |
| pastor | a person who has care of a flock or of a congregation (verb) to serve as the spiritual overseer of |
| pastorate | the office, state, or jurisdiction of a pastor. |
| pastorly | appropriate to a pastor. |
| pastorship | the office of pastor. |
| patercove | (Sl.) a hedge-priest. |
| patrico | (Sl.) a hedge-priest. |
| patrologist | one who practises patrology, the study of early Christianity. |
| peritus | (Lat.) a theological consultant acting as an authority within the Roman Catholic church. |
| piarist | one of a religious foundation for the education of the poor. |
| pir | a Muslim title of honour, given to a holy man. |
| pontifex | (Lat.) a chief priest. |
| pontiff | (Lat.) a chief priest. |
| pontific | relating to, or consisting of, pontiffs or priests. |
| pontifical | of or like a pontiff; (noun) an office-book for bishops. |
| pontificality | the state of being pontifical. |
| pontifically | (Adv.) PONTIFICAL, of or pertaining to a pontiff. |
| pontify | to play the pontiff. |
| popedom | the place, office, or dignity of the Pope. |
| popehood | the state of being a Pope. |
| popeless | without a pope. |
| popelike | like a pope. |
| popeling | a petty or deputy pope. |
| popeship | the office of pope. |
| postulancy | the state or period of being a postulant. |
| postulant | a candidate for a religious order. |
| postulator | an official who presents case for canonization or beatification. |
| preacher | one that preaches. |
| preachership | the office of preacher. |
| prebendary | a clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. |
| precent | to officiate as precentor; to lead the singing of a choir or congregation. |
| precentor | a leader of the singing of a church choir. |
| precentorial | of or like a precentor. |
| precentorship | the office of precentor. |
| precentress | a female precentor. |
| precentrix | a female precentor. |
| predicant | a preacher; spec. a member of a predicant religious order. |
| predikant | (Dutch) a Dutch reformed preacher, esp in S. Africa. |
| prelacy | the office of a prelate. |
| prelate | a bishop or abbot of superior rank. |
| prelateship | the office of prelate. |
| prelatess | a female prelate. |
| prelatial | relating to a prelate, a bishop or abbot of superior rank. |
| prelatic | relating to a prelate, a bishop or abbot of superior rank. |
| prelatical | relating to a prelate, a bishop or abbot of superior rank. |
| prelatically | (Adv.) PRELATICAL, of or pertaining to prelates or prelacy. |
| prelatise | to bring under the influence of the prelacy. |
| prelatish | (Milton) like a prelate. |
| prelatism | domination by prelates. |
| prelatist | a supporter or adherent of prelacy or episcopacy. |
| prelatize | to bring under the influence of the prelacy. |
| prelature | the office of prelate, a bishop or abbot of superior rank. |
| prelaty | the office of a prelate; church government. |
| presbyte | an elder in the early Christian church. |
| presbyter | an elder in the early Christian church. |
| presbyteral | of or like a presbyter. |
| presbyterate | the office of presbyter. |
| presbyterial | relating to a presbytery (noun) an organization of Presbyterian women associated with a presbytery |
| presbyterially | (Adv.) PRESBYTERIAL, relating to a presbytery. |
| presbytership | the office of presbyter, an elder in the early Christian church. |
| presbytery | part of church reserved for officiating clergy. |
| presentee | one presented to a benefice. |
| prester | (Lat.) a priest. |
| priest | an ordained minister (verb) to act as priest |
| priestcraft | priestly policy directed to worldly ends. |
| priestess | a female priest. |
| priesthood | the office, dignity, or character of a priest. |
| priestlike | like a priest. |
| priestliness | the state of being priestly. |
| priestling | a priest of low rank. |
| priestly | like a priest. |
| priestship | the office of priest. |
| primatal | relating to a primate; (noun) a primate. |
| primatial | of or pertaining to ecclesiastical primacy; (noun) a primate. |
| primatic | of or pertaining to ecclesiastical primacy. |
| primatical | of or pertaining to ecclesiastical primacy. |
| primus | (Lat.) a presiding bishop in the Scottish Episcopal church. |
| prior | previous (noun) one in charge of a priory, ranking second to abbot |
| priorate | the state or office of a prior. |
| prioress | a female superior of a house of any of various orders of nuns. |
| priorship | the state or office of prior. |
| pronuncio | a papal ambassador of lower status than a nuncio. |
| prophetess | a woman who is a prophet. |
| prophethood | the state of being a prophet. |
| prophetship | the office of prophet. |
| protomartyr | the first martyr in any cause, esp St Stephen. |
| prozymite | a person who uses leavened bread in the Eucharist (as opposed to an azymite). |
| psalmist | one who composes psalms. |
| psalmodist | a singer of psalms. |
| pseudomartyr | a false martyr. |
| pujari | (Hindu) a priest. |
| pulpiteer | someone who speaks from a pulpit, a preacher; (verb) to preach from a pulpit. |
| pulpiter | someone who speaks from a pulpit, a preacher. |
| pythoness | a witch (with cap, the priestess who gave oracular answers at Delphi in Greece). |
| qabalist | (Hebrew) one who practises cabalism. |
| qawwal | (Arabic) a singer of qawwali, devotional Sufi music. |
| quaestionary | (Scott) a religious pardoner. |
| rabbin | (Hebrew) a Jewish expounder or doctor of the law. |
| rabbinic | (Hebrew) of or pertaining to the rabbins. |
| rabbinist | a person who adheres to the Talmud and traditions of the rabbis. |
| rabbinite | a person who adheres to the Talmud and traditions of the rabbis. |
| rav | a rabbi, esp one in authority. |
| rebbe | (Yiddish) a rabbi or spiritual leader of a Hasidic Jewish group. |
| rebbetzin | (Yiddish) the wife of a rabbi. |
| recollet | (Fr.) a member of an order of Franciscan friars who cultivate detachment from the world. |
| rector | in the Church of England, a clergyman of a parish where the tithes were formerly paid to the incumbent. |
| rectoral | pertaining to a rector or governor. |
| rectorate | the office of rector. |
| rectoress | a female rector, a rector's wife. |
| rectorial | pertaining to a rector or a rectory; (noun) at a Scottish university, a rectorial election. |
| rectorship | the office of rector. |
| rectress | a female rector, a rector's wife. |
| reformade | (Spanish) a monk of a reformed order. |
| reformado | (Spanish) a monk of a reformed order. |
| religieuse | (Fr.) a (female) person bound by monastic vows; a nun. |
| religieux | (Fr.) a (male) person bound by monastic vows; a monk. |
| renunciate | a religious devotee who gives up earthly pleasures to live as an ascetic. |
| reverend | worthy of reverence; (noun) a member of the clergy. |
| revivalist | one who conducts religious revivals. |
| roshi | (Japanese) a teacher of Zen Buddhism. |
| rubricator | one who rubricates. |
| rubrician | a student or follower of liturgical rubrics. |
| sacerdotal | of or relating to priests or a priesthood. |
| sacerdotally | (Adv.) SACERDOTAL, of or relating to priests or a priesthood. |
| sacrist | a Church official in charge of vessels and the sacristy. |
| sacristan | a Church official in charge of vessels and the sacristy. |
| saddhu | (Sanskrit) an ascetic Indian holy man. |
| sadhu | (Sanskrit) an ascetic Indian holy man. |
| saint | a person of exceptional holiness (verb) to declare to be a saint |
| saintdom | the state or character of a saint. |
| saintess | a female saint. |
| sainthood | the state of being a saint. |
| saintish | somewhat saintlike. |
| saintism | the character or quality of saints; also, a hypocritical pretense of holiness. |
| saintlike | like a saint. |
| saintlily | (Adv.) SAINTLY, like a saint. |
| saintliness | the state of being saintly. |
| saintling | a little saint. |
| saintly | like a saint. |
| saintship | the character or qualities of a saint. |
| salvationist | a soldier or officer of the salvation Army. |
| sandek | (Hebrew) a man who holds a baby being circumcised. |
| sannyasi | (Hindi) a Hindu ascetic or hermit who lives by begging. |
| sannyasin | (Hindi) a Hindu ascetic or hermit who lives by begging. |
| sant | (Hindi) in Sikhism, a devout person, a saint. |
| santera | (Spanish) a priestess of santeria, a Caribbean religion. |
| santero | (Spanish) a priest of santeria, a Caribbean religion. |
| santon | (Spanish) an Eastern dervish or saint. |
| sanyasi | (Hindi) a Hindu ascetic or hermit who lives by begging. |
| satanist | one who worships the Devil. |
| saunt | (Scots) a saint; (verb) to sanctify. |
| sceuophylax | a sacristan. |
| schatchen | (Hebrew) a matchmaker. |
| scribism | the character and opinions of a Jewish scribe in the time of Christ. |
| seminarian | a member of, or one educated in, a seminary; specifically, an ecclesiastic educated for the priesthood in a seminary. |
| seminarist | a member of, or one educated in, a seminary; specifically, an ecclesiastic educated for the priesthood in a seminary. |
| semitist | a Semitic scholar. |
| sermoneer | a preacher; a sermonizer. |
| sermoner | a preacher; a sermonizer. |
| sermonise | to deliver or compose a sermon. |
| sermonize | to deliver or compose a sermon. |
| sexton | a church caretaker or bellringer. |
| sextoness | a female sexton; a sexton's wife. |
| sextonship | the office of a sexton. |
| shadchan | (Hebrew) a matchmaker. |
| shadkhan | (Hebrew) a matchmaker. |
| shaman | (Russian) a doctor-priest or medicine man working by magic, esp a priest of Asian Shamanism. |
| shamanic | pertaining to a shaman, a doctor-priest or medicine man working by magic. |
| shamanist | an adherent of Shamanism. |
| shammas | (Yiddish) the sexton in a synagogue; the candle used to light the other 8 candles of a Chanukah menorah. |
| shammash | (Yiddish) the sexton in a synagogue; the candle used to light the other 8 candles of a Chanukah menorah. |
| shammes | (Yiddish) the sexton in a synagogue; the candle used to light the other 8 candles of a Chanukah menorah. |
| shammos | (Hebrew) the sexton in a synagogue; the candle used to light the other 8 candles of a Chanukah menorah. |
| shamos | (Yiddish) the sexton in a synagogue; the candle used to light the other 8 candles of a Chanukah menorah. |
| shochet | (Hebrew) a slaughterer who slaughters in the kosher manner. |
| shriver | one who shrives; a confessor. |
| sidesman | a person elected as an assistant to the churchwardens of a parish or church. |
| silentiary | a person maintaining or bound to silence. |
| sim | (Short for) simulation or for Simeonite, an evangelical follower of Charles Simeon. |
| simoniac | one who practices simony, the buying or selling of a church office or ecclesiastical preferment. |
| simoniacal | of or pertaining to simony. |
| simoniacally | (Adv.) SIMONIACAL, of or pertaining to simony. |
| simonious | (Obs.) of or pertaining to simony. |
| simonist | one who practices simony, the buying or selling of a church office or ecclesiastical preferment. |
| simony | the buying or selling of a church office or ecclesiastical preferment. |
| softa | (Turkish) a Muslim student or practitioner of sacred law and theology. |
| sopheric | (Hebrew) relating to the sopherim, Jewish scribes. |
| sopherim | (Hebrew) the scribes, the expounders of Jewish oral law. |
| souper | in Ireland, a person who dispenses soup as a means of proselytising; one who has been converted in this way. |
| squarson | a clergyman who is also a squire or landowner in his parish. |
| starets | (Russian) an Eastern Orthodox spiritual advisor. |
| staretz | (Russian) an Eastern Orthodox spiritual advisor. |
| stigmatist | one believed to be supernaturally impressed with the marks of Christ's wounds. |
| stylite | (Greek) one of a class of ascetics who lived on the tops of pillars in ancient times. |
| stylitic | of or like a stylite, one of a class of ascetics who lived on the tops of pillars in ancient times. |
| stylitism | the practice of being a stylite. |
| subabbot | one down from an abbot. |
| subcantor | a subordinate cantor, a singer; esp the leader of a church choir. |
| subcardinal | a subordinate cardinal. |
| subchanter | a precentor's deputy; an officer or lay member of a cathedral who assists in chanting the litany. |
| subdeacon | a minister of an order next below that of deacon. |
| subdeaconate | the office of subdeacon. |
| subdeaconry | the office of subdeacon. |
| subdean | an under dean; the deputy or substitute of a dean. |
| subdecanal | of or pertaining to a subdean or subdeanery. |
| subdiaconal | relating to a subdeacon. |
| subdiaconate | the office of subdeacon. |
| subprimate | one ranked below a primate. |
| subprior | the vicegerent of a prior; a claustral officer who assists the prior. |
| subprioress | an assistant prioress. |
| subvicar | an assistant vicar. |
| suffragan | an assistant bishop; any bishop in relation to his metropolitan. |
| suffraganship | the office a suffragan. |
| superioress | the head of a nunnery. |
| superiorship | the office of superior. |
| swami | (Hindi) a Hindu mystic. |
| swamy | (Hindi) a Hindu mystic. |
| synedrial | of or like a synedrium, an ancient rabbinical council of 70 sages, the highest court of ancient Jerusalem. |
| synedrion | an ancient rabbinical council of 70 sages, the highest court of ancient Jerusalem. |
| synedrium | an ancient rabbinical council of 70 sages, the highest court of ancient Jerusalem. |
| synodsman | a member of a synod, an ecclesiastical assembly or council. |
| synoptist | one of the writers of the Synoptic Gospels. |
| synoptistic | of or like a synoptist, one of the writers of the Synoptic Gospels. |
| taperer | one who bears a taper during a religious procession. |
| theogonist | a writer on theogony. |
| theolog | a theologian. |
| theologer | a theologian. |
| theologian | a specialist in theology. |
| theologist | a theologian. |
| theologue | a theologian. |
| tohunga | (Maori) a priest, a wise man with healing powers. |
| tractarian | a writer of tracts. |
| tractator | a writer of tracts. |
| tsaddik | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| tsaddiq | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| tsadik | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| tzaddik | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| tzaddiq | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| tzadik | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| ulama | (Arabic) the body of professional theologians, expounders of the law, in a Muslim country. |
| ulema | (Arabic) the body of professional theologians, expounders of the law, in a Muslim country. |
| unapostolic | not apostolical. |
| unapostolical | not apostolical. |
| unapostolically | (Adv.) UNAPOSTOLICAL, not apostolical. |
| unmiter | to deprive of a miter; to depose or degrade from the rank of a bishop. |
| unmitre | to deprive of a mitre; to depose or degrade from the rank of a bishop. |
| unpriestly | not like a priest. |
| vartabed | (Armenian) a member of an Armenian order of clergy. |
| verger | a church usher and attendant. |
| vergership | the office of verger. |
| vestal | (Lat.) one of the Roman patrician virgins consecrated to Vesta, goddess of the hearth (adj.) relating to a vestal |
| vestally | (Adv.) VESTAL, like a vestal. |
| vestryman | a member of a vestry. |
| vesturer | a person responsible for care of clerical vestments and for other church duties. |
| vicar | a church official. |
| vicarate | the office or authority of a vicar. |
| vicaress | a female vicar. |
| vicarial | of or pertaining to a vicar or vicars. |
| vicariate | the office or authority of a vicar. |
| vicarly | like a vicar > VICARLIER, VICARLIEST. |
| vicarship | the office or dignity of a vicar. |
| vicary | (Obs.) a vicarship. |
| vidame | in French feudal jurisprudence, the deputy of a bishop in temporal affairs; a minor noble. |
| virger | (Obs.) a verger (still the accepted spelling at St Paul's). |
| votaress | a female votary. |
| votarist | one who has taken a vow, esp religious. |
| votary | one who has taken a vow, esp religious. |
| votress | a female votary. |
| vowess | (Hist.) a woman who has taken a vow; a nun. |
| zaddick | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| zaddik | (Hebrew) in Judaism, a Hasidic leader, or person of extraordinary piety. |
| zelator | (Lat.) a nun whose duty is to keep watch on the behaviour of younger nuns in the convent. |
| zelatrice | (Lat.) a nun whose duty is to keep watch on the behaviour of younger nuns in the convent. |
| zelatrix | (Lat.) a nun whose duty is to keep watch on the behaviour of younger nuns in the convent. |
| zymite | a priest using leavened bread during communion. |