different between cleric vs churchman

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin cl?ricus, from Ancient Greek ???????? (kl?rikós), from ?????? (klêros, “a casting lots, drawing lots”). Many officers at Athens obtained their offices by lot, as opposed to election (Liddell and Scott). Doublet of clerk.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kl???k/
• Rhymes: -???k

Noun

cleric (plural clerics)

1. A clergy member.
2. (role-playing games) A spellcaster class that receives their spells (especially healing) from their deity.

Related terms

• clergy
• clergyman
• clerical
• clerk

Translations

Further reading

• cleric in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• cleric in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• cleric at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Circle, circle

Romanian

Etymology

From Latin clericus

Noun

cleric m (plural clerici)

1. cleric

Declension

English

Etymology

From church +? man. Compare kirkman and German Kirchmann.

Noun

churchman (plural churchmen)

1. (obsolete) A churchwarden. [15th–16th c.]
2. A person (originally a man) of authority in a religious organization; a cleric. [from 16th c.]

   The bishop, a highly placed churchman, stated the religion's opinion.

3. A member or adherent of an established church, especially the Church of England. [from 17th c.]
   • 1789, Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, vol. I, ch. 10:

     I replied, ‘I attended St. James's, St. Martin's, and St. Ann's, Soho;’—‘So,’ said he, ‘you are a churchman.’

   • 1791, Joseph Priestley, Letters to Burke, V:

     Thus they say the king of Great Britain, must maintain episcopacy in England, and presbyterianism in Scotland, whether he be a presbyterian as king William, a Lutheran as George I. or a true churchman as his present Majesty.

Translations