priest-ridden, ppl. a.
(ˈpriːstˌrɪd(ə)n)
Also -rid (obs. or arch.).
[f. priest n. + ridden ppl. a.]
‘Ridden’, i.e. managed or controlled by a priest or priests; held in subjection by priestly authority.
| α 1653 Waterhouse Apol. Learn. 82 That pusillanimity..which by many in our Age scornfully is called Priest⁓riddenness as I may so say, their term being Priest-ridden when they express a man addicted to the Clergie. 1681 Dryden Spanish Friar ii. iii, Was ever man thus priest⁓ridden? 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. ii. viii. 80 Nothing but the Redemption of the Priest-ridden Laiety from Priest⁓craft Slavery and Tyranny could have perswaded me to this ungrateful..Toil. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xi, I have been abroad, and know better than to be priest-ridden. 1849 [see press-ridden s.v. press n.1 16]. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. v. 290 note, The Scots are called a priest-ridden people, yet their most esteemed jests are against the clergy. |
| β 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. 411 Which..they endeavoured to keep as ignorant as they could, that the People might be the more patiently Priest-rid. 1714 Mandeville Fab. Bees (1733) I. 260 Men [may] be..religious tho' they refus'd to be priest-rid. 1860 Reade Cloister & H. (1861) II. 28 Not the first fool that has been priest-rid, and monk-bit. |
Hence
ˈpriest-ˌriddenness, the condition of being priest-ridden. So (
nonce-wds.)
ˈpriest-ˌriding, the domination or tyranny of priests;
ˈpriest-ride v. trans. (
rare), to control as a priest.
| 1653 Priest-riddenness [see above]. 1705 in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 156 Common aversion against Priest-riding. 1733 Revolution Politicks iii. 59 'Tis well if they don't priest-ride you. |