Ec*cle`si*as"tic (?; 277), a. [L. ecclesiasticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; an assembly of citizens called out by the crier; also, the church, fr. &?; called out, fr. &?; to call out; &?; out + &?; to call. See Ex-, and Hale, v. t., Haul.] Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical. "Ecclesiastic government." Swift.

Ec*cle`si*as"tic, n. A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest.

From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently preferred to the highest dignities of the church.

• Of or pertaining to the church; ecclesiastical.