priest
priest \'pre-st\ \'pre--st*s\ n [ME preist, fr. OE pre-ost, modif. of LL presbyter, fr. Gk] presbyteros elder, priest, compar. of presbys old man : one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion esp. as a media tory agent between man and God; specif : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon - priest.ess n