antistes
|an-tis-tes|
/ænˈtɪstiːz/
one who stands before (a presider)
Etymology
'antistes' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antistēs', where the prefix 'ante-' meant 'before' and the root related to 'stāre' meant 'to stand'.
'antistēs' was used in Classical and Late Latin with the sense 'one who stands before' (a presider). It continued in ecclesiastical and medieval Latin and appears occasionally in older English texts as the borrowed term 'antistes'.
Initially it meant 'one who stands before' (literally a person standing in front); over time it came to denote a presiding official in religious contexts (a bishop or minister).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an archaic or scholarly term for a presiding cleric or superintendent in a church; a bishop or moderator who stands before (leads) a congregation or council.
The antistes addressed the synod before the sermon.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
a historical title used in ecclesiastical Latin and some older English writings for a church official who presides over liturgical or administrative functions.
In the 16th-century records he is referred to as the antistes of the province.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/10 20:10