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priestess

/ˈpristɪs/
/ˈpristɪs/
IPA guide

Other forms: priestesses

A priestess is a female religious figure. In ancient Greece, a priestess often dressed in the style of a goddess, wearing white robes and carrying a long staff.

The word priestess is a feminine version of priest, which stems from the Old English prēost and its Greek root, presbyteros, "an elder." While hundreds of years ago a priestess was simply a female priest, today's Christians use priest whether they're talking about a man or a woman. The word priestess is used for ancient religions and occasionally pagan or Wiccan religious leaders.

Definitions of priestess
  1. noun
    a woman priest
    see moresee less
    type of:
    priest
    a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
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