US /ˈpɑrsən/ UK /ˈpɑːsən/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a parish priest or clergyman

    The village parson visited the sick every Sunday afternoon.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a parish priest or clergyman clergymanpriestministerrectorvicarclericpastor
Word family
Forms parsonicparsons
Derived forms parsonage
Related forms person

Etymology

From Middle English persone, from Old French persone, from Medieval Latin persona 'parson' (a special use of Latin persona 'person'), the parson being the 'person' legally embodying the parish church.

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Topics

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