Ecclesiastic
/ˌɛkliˈziːstɪk/noun
Relating to the Christian Church or its clergy.
Did you know?Its deepest root is Greek *ekklesia*, an “assembly” literally made of people “called out,” and that same root later passed through Latin into the sacred vocabulary of the Church.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kel-
“to call, shout”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía)
“an assembly, especially a public gathering summoned by proclamation”
Late Greek
Greek
ἐκκλησιαστικός (ekklēsiastikós)
“of the assembly or church”
Late Latin
Latin
ecclesiasticus
“pertaining to the Church”
14th Century
Middle English
ecclesiastik
“pertaining to the Church or clergy”
Modern English
English
ecclesiastic
“relating to the Christian Church or clergy”