Etymology
From Middle English clergie (attested in the thirteenth century), from Old French clergié (learned men), from Late Latin clÄ“ricÄtus, from Latin clÄ“ricus (one ordained for religious services), from Ancient Greek κληÏικός or klÄ“rikós (of the clergy).
Noun
clergy (plural clergies)
- Body of persons, such as priests, who are trained and ordained for religious service.
- Today we brought together clergy from the Unificationist, Catholic, New Age, and Islamic traditions for an interfaith dialogue.
Derived terms
- clergyman
Related terms
- cleric
- clerical
- clerk
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
