rector

[ rek-ter ]
/ ˈrɛk tər /

noun

a member of the clergy in charge of a parish in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation.
Anglican Church. a member of the clergy who has the charge of a parish with full possession of all its rights, tithes, etc.
the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools.

Origin of rector

1350–1400; Middle English rectour < Latin rēctor helmsman, ruler, leader, equivalent to reg(ere) to rule + -tor -tor

OTHER WORDS FROM rector

rec·to·ri·al [rek-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-] /rɛkˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjective sub·rec·tor, noun

Example sentences from the Web for rector

British Dictionary definitions for rector

rector
/ (ˈrɛktə) /

noun

Church of England a clergyman in charge of a parish in which, as its incumbent, he would formerly have been entitled to the whole of the tithes Compare vicar
RC Church a cleric in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation
Episcopal Church Scottish Episcopal Church a clergyman in charge of a parish
mainly British the head of certain schools or colleges
(in Scotland) a high-ranking official in a university: now a public figure elected for three years by the students

Derived forms of rector

rectorate, noun rectorial (rɛkˈtɔːrɪəl), adjective rectorship, noun

Word Origin for rector

C14: from Latin: director, ruler, from regere to rule