antipriesthood
|an-ti-priest-hood|
/ˌæn.tɪˈpriːst.hʊd/
against priesthood
Etymology
'antipriesthood' originates from Modern English, specifically from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with the noun 'priesthood' (from Old English 'preosthād'/'preost-hād'), where the parts mean 'against' + 'the state/condition of being a priest'.
'antipriesthood' is a modern compound formed from 'anti-' + 'priesthood'. 'Priest' comes from Old English 'preost', from Latin 'presbyter' (from Greek 'presbyteros' meaning 'elder'), and the suffix '-hood' comes from Old English '-hād' meaning 'state or condition'; 'anti-' derives from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against'. Over time these elements were combined in Modern English to form the compound 'antipriesthood'.
Initially the elements signified 'against' + 'the condition of being a priest'; the modern compound retains this basic sense and is used to denote opposition to priests or the priestly institution, often as an ideological stance.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to the institution or authority of priests; hostility toward priesthood as an institution.
Her writing expressed a deep antipriesthood that criticized clerical power in rural communities.
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Noun 2
a movement, ideology, or stance aimed at reducing, abolishing, or limiting the social or political role of priests.
During the reform period, several groups adopted antipriesthood platforms to push for secular governance.
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Last updated: 2025/09/07 20:04