Editing Priest (section)

== Etymology ==
The word "priest", is ultimately derived from Latin via [[ancient Greek|Greek]] ''[[presbyter]]'',<ref>''Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language'', College Edition, The World Publishing Company, Cleveland OH, s.v. "priest"</ref> the term for "elder", especially elders of Jewish or Christian communities in [[late antiquity]]. The Latin ''presbyter'' ultimately represents Greek {{lang|grc|πρεσβύτερος}} ''presbúteros'', the regular Latin word for "priest" being ''[[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#sacerdos|sacerdos]]'', corresponding to {{lang|grc|ἱερεύς}} ''hiereús''.

It is possible that the Latin word was loaned into [[Old English]], and only from Old English reached other Germanic languages via the [[Anglo-Saxon mission]] to the continent, giving [[Old Icelandic]] ''prestr'', [[Old Swedish]] ''präster'', [[Old High German]] ''priast''. Old High German also has the disyllabic ''priester, priestar'', apparently derived from Latin independently via [[Old French]] ''presbtre''.

An alternative theory makes ''priest'' cognate with Old High German ''priast'', ''prest'', from [[Vulgar Latin]] *''prevost'' "one put over others", from Latin ''praepositus'' "person placed in charge".<ref>[https://www.etymonline.com/word/priest "priest"]. ''[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]''.</ref>

That English should have only the single term ''priest'' to translate ''presbyter'' and ''sacerdos'' came to be seen as a problem in [[English Bible translations]]. The ''presbyter'' is the minister who both presides and instructs a Christian congregation, while the ''sacerdos'', offerer of [[sacrifice]]s, or in a Christian context the [[eucharist]], performs "mediatorial offices between God and man".<ref>[[Joseph B. Lightfoot]], ''Epistle to the Philippians; a revised text, with introduction, etc.'', 2nd ed. 1869, p. 184, cited after ''[[OED]]''.</ref>

The feminine English noun, ''priestess'', was coined in the 17th century, to refer to female priests of the pre-Christian religions of classical antiquity. In the 20th century, the word was used in controversies surrounding the [[ordination of women in the Anglican Communion|women ordained in the Anglican communion]], who are referred to as "priests", irrespective of gender, and the term priestess is generally considered archaic in Christianity.

Webster's 1829 Dictionary stated "PRIEST, ''noun'' [Latin proestes, a chief, one that presides; proe, before, and sto, to stand, or sisto.]" https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/priest