Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Of or relating to clerks or office workers or their work.
- adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy.
- adj. Advocating clericalism.
- n. A member of the clergy.
- n. Garments worn by the clergy.
- n. An advocate of clericalism.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Relating or pertaining to the clergy: as, clerical tonsure; clerical robes; clerical duties.
- Of or pertaining to a clerk, writer, or copyist: as, clerical errors.
- n. A member of the clergy.
- n. A supporter, especially a political supporter, of clerical power or influence.
Wiktionary
- adj. of or relating to clerks or their work
- adj. of or relating to the clergy
- n. A member of the clergy.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy.
- adj. Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing.
- adj. characteristic of the work performed by a clerk, secretary, or copyist, or suitable to be performed by a clerk.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. of or relating to clerks
- adj. of or relating to the clergy
- adj. appropriate for or engaged in office work
Etymologies
- From Late Latin clēricālis ("clerical"), from clēricus ("clergyman, priest"). (Wiktionary)
Examples
“He also now says he failed to report two smaller land deals because of what he calls clerical errors.”
“Rather, the move would see prisoners working in clerical roles and for utility companies such as the National Grid, which already runs some prison programs.”
“I for one would rather watch football (American or English variety) than a performance by an unbeliever in clerical drag.”
Anglican bishop: Church of England likely gone in thirty years
“I have come to realise that there is a curious assumption made about people who work in clerical roles; that somehow, perhaps through psychic ability or secretive organisations, we all know each other.”
“Nuns and priests could once more appear publicly in clerical garb, they could vote, the Church could own property, diplomatic relations were re-established with the Vatican, and religious schools were once more authorized.”
High hopes, baffling uncertainty: Mexico nears the millennium
“And I asked him why he was never in clerical garb now that he was in Mexico.”
“But, I'll say this, it's hard to see how someone like the pope isn't asking for special attention, and mutatis mutandis this creates a problem for people in clerical garb.”
“It was no accident that medieval government fell almost entirely into the hands of clerics, who were, indeed, the only literate element in the early medieval community, and the close connection between the word "cleric" and the word "clerk" and the dual meaning of their common adjective "clerical", is a continuing reminder of this feature of the origins of our Civil Service.”
“Women in clerical occupations increased about 25 times from 12,600 to 314,600.”
“There was a certain clerical dignitary who had an exceptional capacity for distinguishing, and thus of getting out of, difficulties in which others tried to involve him.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘clerical’.
-
Faintheart's Words
onomatopoeia, no, terrafactive, word, faint, heart, joy, quixotic, karla, half, amp, tardis and 181 more...
-
Papageno's Words, Pt. I
hobbledehoy, absquatulate, chthonic, prolix, ululate, internecine, verisimilitude, animadversion, concupiscence, vertiginous, cucullate, lucubrate and 1554 more...
-
UGS303
encompass, indigenous, clerical, ambivalent, insurgency, ombudsman, thematic, swift, indispensable, paradox, pragmatic
-
Literarie: The Quiet Girl
A novel by Peter Høeg.
sconce, furniture, ostinato, quack grass, child-molester ch..., blonde, granite, angst, dissolve, security, pentatonic, metabolism and 33 more...
-
icky crawly
slacks, blouse, moist, clerical, clinical, frothy, creamy, cornucopia, cold cuts, creationism, patchouli
Tweets
Looking for tweets for clerical.
bilby "'The heart of every person emits a sound,' he said. 'It has a wonderful ring, but unfortunately we dampen it. Right now all of you sound marvelous. There isn't a single one of you for whom Franz and I wouldn't break our clerical vows. If you just listened ten minutes each day. To your heart. And let go of the tension that keeps the wave front from spreading. My God, you would sound like Bach.'"
- 'The Quiet Girl', Peter Høeg. Mar 19, 2008