parson Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person authorized to conduct religious worship
    curate; pastor; minister; rector; minister of religion.
    • clergymen are usually called ministers in Protestant churches

WordNet

Par"son noun
Etymology
OE. persone person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne person, LL. persona (sc. ecclesiae), fr. L. persona a person. See Person.
Definitions
  1. (Eng. Eccl. Law) A person who represents a parish in its ecclesiastical and corporate capacities; hence, the rector or incumbent of a parochial church, who has full possession of all the rights thereof, with the cure of souls.
  2. Any clergyman having ecclesiastical preferment; one who is in orders, or is licensed to preach; a preacher.
    He hears the parson pray and preach. Longfellow.

Webster 1913