'Priest' crushed Greek 'presbyteros' (elder) from four syllables to one on its way to Anglo-Saxon pulpits.
An ordained minister of a religious faith, authorized to perform sacred rites; especially a member of the clergy ranking below a bishop.
From Old English 'prēost,' from Late Latin 'presbyter,' from Greek 'presbýteros' (elder, comparative form of 'présbys,' old man). The word entered Germanic languages very early through contact with Roman Christianity, likely during the 4th–5th centuries. The original Greek meaning was simply 'elder' — early Christian communities were led by councils of elders, and 'presbyteros' became the title for these leaders. English dramatically shortened the word from four