adj
priestly
PREEST-lee
Priestly (adj) means relating to, or characteristic of, a priest. Example: “He wore his priestly robes for the Sunday service.”
adj
1
Relating to, or characteristic of, a priest.
"He wore his priestly robes for the Sunday service."
"She spoke with a calm, priestly authority."
How to use priestly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving to do with priests, or acting/looking the way a priest would.
Common pairings
priestly robes
priestly duties
priestly blessing
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more priestly, priestlier
- Superlative
- most priestly, priestliest
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He wore his _____ robes for the Sunday service.
Etymology
From Middle English prestly, formed from priest plus the adjective-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unpriestly
Related words
Rhymes for priestly
See all rhymes for priestly →Frequently asked questions
What does “priestly” mean?
The word “priestly” means relating to, or characteristic of, a priest. In plain terms, having to do with priests, or acting/looking the way a priest would.
How do you pronounce “priestly”?
“Priestly” is pronounced PREEST-lee (/ˈpɹiːstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “priestly” in a sentence?
Here is “priestly” used in a sentence: “He wore his priestly robes for the Sunday service.”
What is another word for “priestly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “priestly” include hieratic and sacerdotal.
What part of speech is “priestly”?
“Priestly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “priestly” come from?
The word “priestly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English prestly, formed from priest plus the adjective-forming suffix -ly.
