PRIESTLY (priestlier, priestliest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: priestlier    , priestliest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does priestly mean? 

• PRIESTLY (adjective)
  The adjective PRIESTLY has 2 senses:

1. associated with the priesthood or priests

2. befitting or characteristic of a priest or the priesthood

  Familiarity information: PRIESTLY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRIESTLY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Associated with the priesthood or priests

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

hieratic; hieratical; priestly; sacerdotal

Context example:

hieratic gestures

Pertainym:

priesthood (the body of ordained religious practitioners)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Befitting or characteristic of a priest or the priesthood

Synonyms:

priestlike; priestly

Context example:

priestly dedication to the people of his parish

Antonym:

unpriestly (not priestly; unbefitting a priest)

Derivation:

priest (a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders)

 Context examples 

You rob me first, and now you would come preaching and whining, in search mayhap of another field or two for your priestly friends.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)