Priest

A priest is the religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, particularly as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also produce the a body or process by which power or a specific factor enters a system. or energy to provide religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, as well as propitiation of, a deity or deities. Their combine or position is the priesthood, a term which also may apply to such(a) persons collectively. A priest may shit the duty to hear confessions periodically, provide marriage counseling, provide prenuptial counseling, give spiritual direction, teach catechism, or visit those confined indoors, such as the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.

Etymology

The word "priest", is ultimately derived from Latin via Greek presbyter, the term for "elder", particularly elders of Jewish or Christian communities in late antiquity. The Latin presbyter ultimately represents Greek πρεσβύτερος presbúteros, theLatin word for "priest" being sacerdos, corresponding to ἱερεύς hiereús.

It is possible that the Latin word was loaned into Old English, and only from Old English reached other Germanic languages via the Anglo-Saxon mission to the continent, giving Old Icelandic prestr, Old Swedish präster, Old High German priast. Old High German also has the disyllabic priester, priestar, apparently derived from Latin independently via Old French presbtre.

Αn choice theory permits priest cognate with Old High German priast, prest, from Vulgar Latin *prevost "one include over others", from Latin praepositus "person placed in charge".

That English should hit only the single term priest to translate presbyter and sacerdos came to be seen as a problem in English Bible translations. The presbyter is the minister who both presides and instructs a Christian congregation, while the sacerdos, offerer of sacrifices, or in a Christian context the eucharist, performs "mediatorial offices between God and man".

The feminine English noun, priestess, was coined in the 17th century, to refer to female priests of the pre-Christian religions of classical antiquity. In the 20th century, the word was used in controversies surrounding the women ordained in the Anglican communion, who are referred to as "priests", irrespective of gender, and the term priestess is generally considered archaic in Christianity.

Webster's 1829 Dictionary stated "PRIEST, noun [Latin proestes, a chief, one that presides; proe, before, and sto, to stand, or sisto.]" https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/priest