Noun | 1. | ![]() clergy - in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity) spiritual leader - a leader in religious or sacred affairs acolyte - someone who assists a priest or minister in a liturgical service; a cleric ordained in the highest of the minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church but not in the Anglican Church or the Eastern Orthodox Churches anagnost - a cleric in the minor orders of the Eastern Orthodox Church who reads the lessons aloud in the liturgy (analogous to the lector in the Roman Catholic Church) archdeacon - (Anglican Church) an ecclesiastical dignitary usually ranking just below a bishop chaplain - a clergyman ministering to some institution curate, minister, minister of religion, parson, pastor, rector - a person authorized to conduct religious worship; "clergymen are usually called ministers in Protestant churches" deacon - a cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches; one of the Holy Orders ostiarius, ostiary, doorkeeper - the lowest of the minor Holy Orders in the unreformed Western Church but now suppressed by the Roman Catholic Church lector, reader - someone who reads the lessons in a church service; someone ordained in a minor order of the Roman Catholic Church officiant - a clergyman who officiates at a religious ceremony or service ordinand - a person being ordained ordinary - a clergyman appointed to prepare condemned prisoners for death postulator - (Roman Catholic Church) someone who proposes or pleads for a candidate for beatification or canonization priest - a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders shepherd - a clergyman who watches over a group of people subdeacon - a clergyman an order below deacon; one of the Holy Orders in the unreformed western Christian church and the eastern Catholic Churches but now suppressed in the Roman Catholic Church vicar - (Church of England) a clergyman appointed to act as priest of a parish vicar - (Episcopal Church) a clergyman in charge of a chapel |
2. | Reverend - a title of respect for a clergyman form of address, title of respect, title - an identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. `Mr.' or `General'; "the professor didn't like his friends to use his formal title" | |
Adj. | 1. | ![]() sacred - concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music" |