clerical, a. (n.)
(ˈklɛrɪkəl)
[f. L. clēric-āl-is, f. clēric-us clergyman: see prec.]
A. adj.
1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, the clergy or a clergyman (esp. in their professional capacity).
| 1592 tr. Junius on Rev. xiii. 17 Clericall tonsure or shaving. 1649 Bp. Hall Cases Consc. ii. 1 (T.) Meet for clerical and religious persons. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 5 The hard yoke of clerical usurpation. 1829 Lytton Devereux i. ii, His garb was as little clerical as possible. 1876 Mozley Univ. Serm. iv. 82 The ambition of the clerical order has always been attended by peculiarly repulsive features. |
2. Of or pertaining to a clerk or penman (see clerk 5), of clerks; esp. in clerical error, an error made in writing anything out.
| 1798 Bay Amer. Law Rep. (1809) I. 82 The word was omitted through a clerical mistake in the person who drew the will. 1838 Gurwood Wellington Disp. IV. 105 note, It is supposed that this is a clerical error. 1865 New York World 13 Oct., A clerical force is employed to keep the accounts and attend to the correspondence. 1879 Daily News 16 Sept. 3/3 The clerical service of the Customs. |
B. n. A cleric: one of a clerical party.
| 1837 Marryat Dog-fiend xxxiii, We except the clericals. 1871 Daily News 21 Sept., The German party was to make way for the Czechs and clericals. 1882–3 Schaff Encycl. Rel. Knowl. I. 31 The Sixth Council of Orleans deposed every clerical who had committed adultery. |
b. pl. Clerical garments (colloq.; cf. academicals, canonicals).
| 1865 Athenæum No. 1989. 802/3 Donning ‘a suit of clericals’. |