Presbyter
/ˈprɛz.bɪ.tər/noun
A Christian elder or member of the clergy, especially in some churches a priest.
Did you know?Presbyter comes from the same ancient root as words for “elder,” and in early Christianity it was a rank of authority before it later narrowed into the idea of a priest.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to be first, foremost, in front”
Ancient Greek
Greek
presbyteros (πρεσβύτερος)
“older, elder, senior”
Late Latin
Latin
presbyter
“elder, church elder”
Old English
Old English
preost
“priest; cleric”
Middle English
English
presbytere
“an elder of the church”
Modern English
English
presbyter
“a church elder or priest”
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