Other forms: priesthoods
The priesthood is the office of a priest, and those who hold it. Enter the priesthood, leave the priesthood, the Catholic priesthood.
Enter the priesthood is the usual phrase for beginning that life, and the word covers the whole body of priests as well as the office itself. Who may join it — whether women, whether married people — is one of the sharpest questions inside several churches.
1nounpriesthoodThe office of a priest, and those who hold it.
“After college, he felt called to the priesthood and began his training at a seminary.”
priesthood is an office.
Old English preosthad, from priest, ultimately Greek presbyteros, an elder, plus -hood, a state or condition.
Old English
prēosthād — priesthood
Middle English
presthed
English, today
priesthood
From Middle English presthed, presthede, presthod, presthode, from Old English prēosthād (“priesthood”), equivalent to priest + hood. Compare Dutch priesterheid (“priesthood”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA