protopope

noun

pro·​to·​pope

ˈprōtəˌpōp

: the first in rank of the priests of a cathedral in the Eastern Church who administers the diocese during the absence of the bishop or a vacancy in the see

Word History

Etymology

Russian protopop, from Middle Greek prōtopapas chief priest, from Greek prōt- prot- + Middle Greek papas priest, from Greek, title of bishops, literally, papa

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!