priestliness en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English priestly Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English priestliness From priestly + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable) The quality or state of being like a priest.
My lords have chosen the happier part with Paul / And neither marry nor burn,—yet priestliness / Can find a parallel to the marriage-bond / In its own blessed special ordinance / Whereof indeed was marriage made the type: […]
1868, Robert Browning, “V. Count Guido Franceschini.”, in The Ring and the Book. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., →OCLC, pages 103–104, lines 723–727:
Relateds
priesthood · priestly · priestship
Translations (2)
ga sagartúlacht (quality or state of being like a priest) · pl kapłaństwo (quality or state of being like a priest)