'anti-priestly' originates from Modern English, specifically composed of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' and 'priest' (from Old English 'preost'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'preost' referred to a 'priest'.

'priest' changed from Old English word 'preost' (borrowed via Latin 'presbyter' from Greek 'presbyteros'), and the modern compound 'anti-priestly' developed in Modern English by combining 'anti-' with 'priest' and the adjectival suffix '-ly'.

Initially, the components signified 'against' + 'priest', and over time the compound has retained this core meaning as 'opposed to priests or the priesthood'.