noun
- a member of the clergy or other person in religious orders.
- a member of the ecclesia in ancient Athens.
adjective
noun
- a clergyman or other person in holy orders
adjective
- of or associated with the Christian Church or clergy
late 15c., from Middle French ecclésiastique and directly from Late Latin ecclesiasticus, from Greek ekklesiastikos “of the (ancient Athenian) assembly,” later, “of the church,” from ekklesiastes “speaker in an assembly or church, preacher,” from ekkalein “to call out,” from ek “out” (see ex-) + kalein “to call” (see claim (v.)).