Clergy

klei-'j!, v. The body of ecclesiastics, as disting. fr. the laity: in En e., ministers of the established: church; benefit of clergy. — Benefit of clergy. (Eng. Laic.) Exemption of clergymen from crim inal proce before a secular judge — once extended to all who could read, but now abolished. or — Clergyable, a. Entitled to, or admitting, the benetit of clergy. — Clergyman, n.; pi. -men. An get ordained minister. — Cleric, klerlk, n. A clerk, or clergyman. — Cleric, -ical, a. Pert, to the clergy; and also to a clerk or copyist. — Clericalism, -izm, n.