Presbyteress
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Presbyteress is a noun meaning (historical) A presbyter or priest's wife.
Meaning
(historical) A presbyter or priest's wife.
More Meanings
- (obsolete) A female presbyter (elder of the congregation in early Christianity).
Example Sentences
Age was doubtless a requisite in presbyters, as it is here stated to have been in presbyteresses, with a view to their influence on the younger persons of their sex. They were supported by the Church, but not the only widows so supported.
Even a special blessing was included within the liturgy for the wives of married men on the day of their husband's ordination in the sixth century. These women were called presbyteresses (presbyterissae) and were entitled to wear special dress.
Word Forms
- presbyteresses
Synonyms for presbyteress
Depending on context, synonyms include presbytera, priestess.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include presbytress, presbytera, priestess, prelatess, parsoness, presbyterial.
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.