parson
UK /ˈpɑːs(ə)n/ · US /ˈpɑɹsən/ noun, proper noun
Forms parsons
- noun An Anglican cleric having full legal control of a parish under ecclesiastical law.
- noun A Protestant minister.
- noun (now chiefly historical) A Roman Catholic priest of an independent parish church.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
rector autem bawler autem jet curate minister of religion minister pastor
Etymology
From Middle English persoun, from Anglo-Norman, Old French persone (“parson, person”), from Medieval Latin persona (“parson, person”), from Latin persona (“person”). Doublet of person and persona.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A person who represents a parish in its ecclesiastical and corporate capacities; hence, the rector or incumbent of a parochial church, who has full possession of all the rights thereof, with the cure of souls.
- noun Any clergyman having ecclesiastical preferment; one who is in orders, or is licensed to preach; a preacher.
Etymology [OE. persone person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne person, LL. persona (sc. ecclesiae), fr. L. persona a person. See Person.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “parson”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details