Prelate

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɛlət/

Definitions

1. A religious authority figure with significant leadership duties within a specific denomination or church organization who oversees clergy and congregations
2. An ecclesiastical official distinguished by their seniority and influence, often responsible for governance and spiritual guidance in a religious community
3. A senior ecclesiastical leader who exercises authority over clergy and congregations within a religious denomination and provides spiritual oversight

Etymology: The word "prelate" carries a surprising sense of being "carried before" or "put first." It comes from Medieval Latin "praelātus," the past participle of the Latin verb "praeferō," which combined "prae-" (before) with "ferō" (to carry). Literally, a prelate was someone "borne before" others, a fitting origin for a ranking church official. The same Latin verb gave English "prefer," and the two words are doublets, meaning they descend from one source by different routes. "Prefer" came into English directly from Latin, while "prelate" passed through Old French "prelat" before reaching English. The Latin verb's sense of carrying forward or setting ahead also shaped a family of English words such as "infer," "refer," "defer," "confer," and "collate," all built on the same root.

Synonyms: bishop, clergyman, minister, pastor, church leader