Recent Examples on the WebWriting in the eighteenth century, Smith compared energetic and often sensationalist Methodist preachers with the more reserved and cerebral parsons of the Church of England.—Shadi Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024 The other is her violent stepfather, who, in this version, is also the church’s parson (Steven Pasquale).—Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 His living room included an antique Japanese screen hanging on a white wall above a leather banquette with pillow sable heads mounted on silver pedestals and a parsons table.—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023 The stranger asked to see Patrick, but after he was informed that the parson was ill in bed, the encounter took an unsettling turn.—V.m. Braganza, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for parson
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parson.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English persone, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin persona, literally, person, from Latin
Middle English persone "parson," from early French persone (same meaning), from Latin persona, literally, "person"; so called because the parson was the legal "person" representing the church
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