Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A woman who is a cleric.
  • noun A woman who is a member of a church.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A female member of the church, specifically of the Anglican Church.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The female equivalent of a churchman.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In the 1980s, he got involved in issues surrounding U.S. policy in El Salvador, this after four churchwoman -- two his dear friends -- were raped and killed by Salvadoran soldiers.

    Angela Bonavoglia: At Easter, Church Expels Women's Advocate, Keeps Pedophiles In The Fold Angela Bonavoglia 2011

  • Yes, Bede's interest is in Hild as a great churchwoman, so his interest in Hereric is just to provide Hild with a suitably noble ancestry and a fulfilled prophecy of a great destiny.

    Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

  • Bede only mentions Hereric at all in a brief aside on the birth of a notable churchwoman.

    Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

  • On the other hand, Bede's real interest here is presumably Hild and her life as a churchwoman.

    Hereric of Deira Carla 2010

  • She thinks like a Methodist, talks like a Methodist and wants to reform society just like a well-Sunday-schooled Methodist churchwoman should.

    Soulful Matters 2008

  • So as often as I sincerely wish to throw a blanket over my teenage daughter before she goes out, I know I can't do this (although I can cluck, like a churchwoman, "Aren't you going to be cold in that, dear?").

    Danielle Crittenden: Islamic Like Me: Is Western Culture More Sexually Oppressive Than The Burka? 2008

  • The third POV, and the most interesting, is that of Rosvita, a churchwoman constructing an elaborate history of the Wendish peoples for the King's aged mother.

    Archive 2007-06-01 Adam Whitehead 2007

  • The third POV, and the most interesting, is that of Rosvita, a churchwoman constructing an elaborate history of the Wendish peoples for the King's aged mother.

    King's Dragon & Prince of Dogs by Kate Elliott Adam Whitehead 2007

  • There is not a churchwoman here but will stand her ground against these folks, for the honour of the Establishment.

    Shirley, by Charlotte Bronte 2004

  • There was another reason for her respect which Mrs. Baynes, too good a churchwoman to be worldly, would have been the last to admit — she often heard her husband describe old Jolyon as extremely well off, and was biassed towards his granddaughter for the soundest of all reasons.

    The Man of Property 2004

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