[a. F. archeprestre (mod. archiprêtre):—L. archipresbyter (see prec.).] A chief priest; spec. in early times, as still in the Italian Church, a kind of vicar to the bishop, acting also as dean of the cathedral; later, a rural dean. Also, the title of the superior of the Roman Catholic clergy in England from 1598 to 1623.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 31. Another whyche named hym self Dauyd archeprest.
1577. Harrison, England, I. II. i. 15. Our deanerie churches … now called mother churches and their incumbents archpreests.
1710. Lond. Gaz., mmmmdccxvi/1. The Cardinal Marescotti is chosen Arch-Priest of St. Peter’s Church.
1854. N. & Q., Ser. I. IX. 185/2. The Rectory of Haccombe … gives to its incumbent for the time being the dignity of Arch-priest of the diocese [of Exeter].
b. transf. or fig.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. III. (1845), III. vii. 193. Whitfield their archpriest… preaching his funeral sermon.
1866. Daily Tel., 26 Jan., 4/6. The archpriest of agitation, O’Connell.
Hence Archpriesthood, Archpriestship (obs.), the position or office of an arch-priest.
1560. Daus, Sleidane’s Comm., 336 b. Whiche do vtterly contemne … archepreistship.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., II. Wks. 1851, 45. Contending sometimes about the archpriesthood.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 512. Libels against the Archpriestship.
1881. Athenæum, 27 Aug., 268/1. The archpriesthood of the collegiate church of Sta. Maria Maggiore.
