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A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion.

Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; -- a contemptuous term of 17th century controversy. You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call Presbyterians. Milton.

in a crib or in narrow accommodations. [R.] Who sought to make . . . bishops to crib in a Presbyterian trundle bed. Gauden.

o dangle about or after, to hang upon importunately; to court the favor of; to beset. The Presbyterians, and other fanatics that dangle after them, are well inclined to pull down the present establishment. Swift.

admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and…

A Puritan or Presbyterian; -- because of rigid adherence to religious or church discipline. [Obs.]

Excessive fondness; weak and foolish affection. The dotage of the nation on presbytery. Bp. Burnet.

he oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district. -- Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. Schaff.

To cut off; to separate or expel from union; to extirpate. Barrow. The second presbytery of Philadelphia was also exscinded by that Assembly. Am. Cyc.

Tis not in thee To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train. Shak. I have often heard the Presbyterians say, they did not grudge us our employments. Swift. They have grudged us contribution. Shak.

A presbyter appointed by the bishop to institute a rector or assistant minister over a parish church.

o launch a business project or enterprise. All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England. Eikon Basilike.

former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians. -- Old sledge, an old and well-known game of cards, called also all fours, and high, low, Jack, and the game. -- Old squaw (Zoöl.), a duck (Clangula hyemalis) inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The…

A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [Obs.]

A presbyter elder; a minister; specifically:

of good morals and qualifications from his university, is admitted to several trials by a presbytery, and, on acquitting himself well, is licensed to preach. [Scot.]

A follower of Sabellius, a presbyter of Ptolemais in the third century, who maintained that there is but one person in the Godhead, and that the Son and Holy Spirit are only different powers, operations, or offices of the one God the Father.

One of a numerous body of Presbyterians in Scotland who seceded from the communion of the Established Church, about the year 1733, and formed the Secession Church, so called.

iocesan, a synod in which the bishop of the diocese or his representative presides. Among Presbyterians, a synod is composed of several adjoining presbyteries. The members are the ministers and a ruling elder from each parish.

ommit unjust encroachments; to be, or act as, a usurper. The parish churches on which the Presbyterians and fanatics had usurped. Evelyn. And now the Spirits of the Mind Are busy with poor Peter Bell; Upon the rights of visual sense Usurping, with a prevalence More terrible than magic spell. Wordsworth.…