paraclete

American  

[par-uh-kleet] / ˈpær əˌklit /

noun

1. an advocate or intercessor.

2. (initial capital letter) the Holy Spirit; the Comforter.

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Paraclete ¹ British  

/ ˈpærəˌkliːt /

noun

1. Christianity the Holy Ghost as comforter or advocate

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paraclete ² British  

/ ˈpærəˌkliːt /

noun

1. rare a mediator or advocate

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Etymology

Origin of paraclete

1400–50; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin Paraclētus < Late Greek Paráklētos comforter, literally, (person) called in (to help), verbid of parakaleîn (equivalent to para- para- ¹ + kaleîn to call); replacing late Middle English paraclit < Medieval Latin Paraclītus, representing Medieval Greek Paráklētos

Example Sentences

When China Altman and George Blakely Rogers married recently in Boston, they accepted the offer of an old friend to be their "paraclete," or special adviser and supporter of their union.

From Time Magazine Archive

But a paraclete or comforter whispered softly in the ear of the youth's heart as they departed: to-morrow thou wilt see her only a few steps from thee in the garden!

From Titan: A Romance v. 1 (of 2) by Richter, Jean Paul Friedrich

Manes was the paraclete sent to complete his teaching; the body was evil, and only by long struggle and mortification could man be delivered from it, and reach final blessedness.

From The Freethinker's Text Book, Part II. Christianity: Its Evidences, Its Origin, Its Morality, Its History by Besant, Annie Wood

It abandoned its reverence for Manes as the paraclete and transferred its allegiance to two others of its leaders, Paul and John of Samosata, from the first of whom it acquired the name of Paulicianism.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Lea, Henry Charles