priestess

[ pree-stis ]

noun

1. a woman who officiates in sacred rites.

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of priestess¹

First recorded in 1685–95; priest + -ess

Example Sentences

Filmed in black and white, the video shows Anitta crouching naked as a priestess in traditional, white attire pours purifying water over her head.

From Seattle Times

Cassandra A ancient Trojan priestess who was fated to be a prophet but never believed, most famously about Greek troops hiding inside the Trojan Horse.

From Los Angeles Times

Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of a high priestess, lit the flame in a dramatic ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, where the first Olympic games were held in 776 BC.

From BBC

An actor playing an ancient Greek priestess holds a silver torch containing highly combustible materials over a concave mirror.

From Seattle Times

Forecast cloudy skies could frustrate efforts to produce the flame in the customary fashion, when an actress dressed as an ancient Greek priestess uses the sun to ignite a silver torch.

From Seattle Times