churchman

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a male member of the clergy or another man holding authority in a Christian church

   The senior churchman called for reconciliation between the two congregations.

2. 2
   noun

   a male member or adherent of a church, especially an established church such as the Church of England

   Though politically radical, he remained a loyal Anglican churchman.

From church + man, attested in Middle English and modeled as a person associated with a church. It can denote either a clergyman or an adherent of a particular church. Compare Scots kirkman and German Kirchmann.

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