Other forms: preachers
A preacher is someone who speaks publicly about belief. A street preacher, a fiery preacher, the preacher said.
The word is used across denominations and by none, and it carries a hint of urgency that minister does not. Preaching to the converted means arguing to people who already agree. Note preach; and that the Latin means to proclaim in public, from praedicare.
1nounpreacherSomeone who speaks publicly about belief.
“The preacher spoke so powerfully that some people in the crowd began to cry.”
preacher is a speaker.
Old French preecheor comes from Latin praedicator, from praedicare, to proclaim. Predicate and dictate come from the same proclaiming.
Middle English
precher
English, today
preacher
From Middle English precher, prechere; partly equivalent to preach + -er, and partly continuing Middle English prechour, prechiour, from Old French preecheor (French prêcheur), from Latin praedicator (“public praiser, proclaimer”). See preach. Displaced native bydel.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA