Priestcraft
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The craft of performing the duties of a priest. uncountable, usually
"There is philosophercraft as well as priestcraft, both from one source, both of one spirit. In English cities and towns, the minister of religion has been tamed: so many weapons are bared against him when he obtrudes his office in a dictatory manner, that, as a rule, there is no more quiet and modest member of society than the urban clergyman."
- 2 the skills involved in the work of a priest wordnet
- 3 Priestly policy directed towards worldly ends. derogatory, uncountable, usually
"In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, before polygamy was made a sin"
- 4 a derogatory reference to priests who use their influence to control secular or political affairs wordnet
Example
More examples"There is philosophercraft as well as priestcraft, both from one source, both of one spirit. In English cities and towns, the minister of religion has been tamed: so many weapons are bared against him when he obtrudes his office in a dictatory manner, that, as a rule, there is no more quiet and modest member of society than the urban clergyman."
Etymology
From Middle English priestcraft; equivalent to priest + -craft.
More for "priestcraft"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.