priest: [OE] Priest goes back ultimately to the Greek noun presbúteros, which meant literally ‘elder’ (it was formed from the comparative of the adjective présbus ‘old’). It was used in the Greek translation of the New Testament for ‘elder of the church, priest’. It was borrowed into Latin as presbyter (source of English presbyterian [17]). This subsequently became reduced to *prēster (as in Prester John), which was taken over by Old English as prēost, ancestor of modern English priest. => presbyterian
priest (n.)
Old English preost probably shortened from the older Germanic form represented by Old Saxon and Old High German prestar, Old Frisian prestere, all from Vulgar Latin *prester "priest," from Late Latin presbyter "presbyter, elder," from Greek presbyteros (see Presbyterian).
An alternative theory (to account for the -eo- of the Old English word) makes it cognate with Old High German priast, prest, from Vulgar Latin *prevost "one put over others," from Latin praepositus "person placed in charge," from past participle of praeponere (see provost). In Old Testament sense, a translation of Hebrew kohen, Greek hiereus, Latin sacerdos.
双语例句
1. The priest made the sign of the cross over him.
神父在他上方画了个十字。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The priest frowned into the light, his face puzzled.
神父在亮光下皱起了眉头，一脸疑惑。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The priest's eyes were squeezed shut against the light.
牧师紧闭双眼，以避开强光。
来自柯林斯例句
4. She heard the priest's familiar, flat footfall on the staircase.
她听到楼梯上传来牧师那熟悉的单调脚步声。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The poor priest was plied with drink at a dinner party.
