presbyterian

[prez-bi-teer-ee-uh n, pres-] /ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i ən, ˌprɛs-/
adjective
1.
pertaining to or based on the principle of ecclesiastical government by presbyters or presbyteries.
2.
(initial capital letter) designating or pertaining to various churches having this form of government and professing more or less modified forms of Calvinism.
noun
3.
(initial capital letter) a member of a Presbyterian church; a person who supports Presbyterianism.
Origin
1635-45; presbytery + -an
Related forms
non-Presbyterian, adjective, noun
pro-Presbyterian, adjective, noun
pseudo-Presbyterian, adjective, noun
Examples from the web for presbyterian
  • Their form of church governance is known as presbyterian polity.
British Dictionary definitions for presbyterian

presbyterian

/ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or designating Church government by presbyters or lay elders
noun
2.
an upholder of this type of Church government
Derived Forms
presbyterianism, noun
presbyterianistic, adjective

Presbyterian

/ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən/
adjective
1.
of or relating to any of various Protestant Churches governed by presbyters or lay elders and adhering to various modified forms of Calvinism
noun
2.
a member of a Presbyterian Church
Derived Forms
Presbyterianism, noun
Word Origin and History for presbyterian

Presbyterian

adj., n.

1640, in reference to the Scottish church governed by elders (as opposed to bishops), from presbyter "an elder in a church" (1590s), from Late Latin presbyter "an elder," from Greek presbyteros "an elder," also an adjective meaning "older," comparative of presbys "old" (see presby-).

Presbyterial was used from c.1600 in the sense "of or pertaining to a presbytery;" also from 1590s as "presbyterian" (adj.).