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Clergy

Meanings and phrases

clergy

Pronunciation American British Australian Indian
n.
  1. in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)

benefit of clergy

Pronunciation American British Australian Indian
n.
  1. sanction by a religious rite

secular clergy

Pronunciation American British Australian Indian
E.g.
  • In 1969 the Jesuits handed the church to secular clergy of the Portsmouth diocese.
  • At the start of the 16th century, the secular clergy (curates, vicars, canons, etc.)
  • He received permission to recruit among the secular clergy to serve there on contracts of five-years duration.

clergy and laity

Pronunciation American British Australian Indian
E.g.
  • includes both clergy and laity.
  • The General Synod of the Church of England is the legislative body for the church and comprises bishops, other clergy and laity.
  • Nevertheless, the clergy and laity of Hereford gave him a warm welcome, and he enjoyed working with the incumbents of country parishes.

local clergy

Pronunciation American British Australian Indian
E.g.
  • The local clergy has 400 diocesan priests and 300 seminarians.
  • During his lifetime, he also celebrated the occasion with a dinner attended by local clergy and gentry.
  • Sometimes even the king's favor was not sufficient to avoid the troubles that the local clergy could cause.
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