padre

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a Christian priest, especially in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking community

   The Portuguese padre helped the naturalist obtain a rare specimen from the surrounding forest.

2. 2
   noun

   a chaplain serving with the armed forces

   The regiment's padre held a short service before the soldiers departed.

Borrowed from Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian padre ("father; priest"), from Latin pater ("father"). English has used it for a priest since the late sixteenth century and later extended it to military chaplains.

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