Prie (?), n. (Bot.) The plant privet. [Obs.] Tusser.
Prie, v. i. To pry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Pried (?), imp. & p. p. of Pry.
Prie`dieu" (?), n. [F., literally, pray God.] A kneeling desk for
prayers.
Prief (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Spenser. Lydgate.
Pri"er (?), n. [From Pry.] One who pries; one who inquires narrowly and
searches, or is inquisitive.
So pragmatical a prier he is into divine secrets.
Fuller.
Priest (?), n. [OE. prest, preost, AS. preÛst, fr. L. presbyter, Gr.
&?; elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of &?; an old man, the first
syllable of which is probably akin to L. pristinus. Cf. Pristine,
Presbyter.]
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1. (Christian Church) A presbyter elder; a minister; specifically: (a)
(R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) One who is authorized to consecrate the host and
to say Mass; but especially, one of the lowest order possessing this
power. Murdock. (b) (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) A presbyter; one
who belongs to the intermediate order between bishop and deacon. He is
authorized to perform all ministerial services except those of
ordination and confirmation.
2. One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice;
one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in
any form of religion; as, Buddhist priests. "The priests of Dagon." 1
Sam. v. 5.
Then the priest of Jupiter . . . brought oxen and garlands . . .
and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Acts xiv. 13.
Every priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for
sins.
Heb. v. 1.
In the New Testament presbyters are not called priests; but Christ is
designated as a priest, and as a high priest, and all Christians are
designated priests.
Priest (?), v. t. To ordain as priest.
Priest"cap` (?), n. (Fort.) A form of redan, so named from its shape;
-- called also swallowtail.
Priest"craft` (?), n. Priestly policy; the policy of a priesthood;
esp., in an ill sense, fraud or imposition in religious concerns;
management by priests to gain wealth and power by working upon the
religious motives or credulity of others.
It is better that men should be governed by priestcraft than by
violence.
Macaulay.
Priest"er*y (?), n. Priests, collectively; the priesthood; -- so called
in contempt. [R.] Milton.
Priest"ess, n. A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans.
Abp. Potter.
Priest"hood (?), n. 1. The office or character of a priest; the
priestly function. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
2. Priests, taken collectively; the order of men set apart for sacred
offices; the order of priests.
Priest"ing, n. The office of a priest. [Obs.] Milton.
Priest"ism (?), n. The influence, doctrines, principles, etc., of
priests or the priesthood. [R.]
Priest"less, a. Without a priest. Pope.
Priest"like` (?), a. Priestly. B. Jonson.
Priest"li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being priestly. R.
Browning.
Priest"ly, a. Of or pertaining to a priest or the priesthood;
sacerdotal; befitting or becoming a priest; as, the priestly office; a
priestly farewell. Shak.
Priest"-rid`den (?), a. Controlled or oppressed by priests; as, a
priest-ridden people. Swift.