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presbyter

pres·by·ter [ prézbitər ] (plural pres·by·ters)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. member of early church administration: in early Christianity, an administrative official of a local church

2. member of clergy: an ordained member of the clergy in many Christian churches

3. lay official in Presbyterian Church: any layperson chosen by the congregation to govern a Presbyterian or other Reformed church

4. powerful self-appointed leader: a powerful, self-appointed or self-anointed person, e.g., a leader of a group or faction or a backer of a major movement ( disapproving )

[Late 16th century. Via ecclesiastical Latin< Greek presbuteros "elder of the church" < presbus "man of advanced years"]
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