presbyteress

noun

pres·​by·​ter·​ess

ˈprezbətərə̇s

plural -es

1

a

: the wife of a presbyter or priest in one of the early medieval churches

especially : one coming under the operation of the rule requiring the continence of clergymen

b

obsolete : a priest's concubine

2

: a woman serving as a presbyter or elder in one of the early medieval churches : one of a body of aged widows dedicated to the service of the church and constituting an ecclesiastical order

3

: the wife of a priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of Medieval Latin presbyterissa, from presbyter priest (from Late Latin, presbyter, elder) + Late Latin -issa -ess

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