a member of the clergy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
cler•ic
(kler′ik),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Religiona member of the clergy.
- Religiona member of a clerical party.
- Ophthalmology clerics, (used with a pl. v.) half-sized or small-sized reading glasses worn on the nose, usually rimless or with a thin metal frame.
adj.
- Religionpertaining to the clergy;
clerical.
- Greek klērikós, equivalent. to klêr(os) lot, allotment + -ikos -ic
- Late Latin clēricus priest
- 1615–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'cleric' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Oresme
- Taylor
- abbé
- archdeacon
- bishop
- clergy
- clerical
- clerisy
- clerk
- corona
- excardination
- frock
- intrude
- laying on of hands
- oil of catechumens
- parish house
- paschal letter
- precentor
- rabat
- rector
- rural dean
- subdeacon
- tonsure
- translate
- vicar capitular