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archdruid

archdruid

1 9.9
A chief religious leader in ancient Celtic religion who leads ceremonies
  • noun
  • /ˈɑrkˌdruːɪd/
  • Literature
translation icon : archidruida
  • John Michael Greer is the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and the author of more than twenty books on a wide range of subjects, including The Long Descent: A User's Guide to the End of the Industrial Age, The Ecotechnic Future: Exploring a Post-Peak World, and The Wealth of Nature: Economics As If Survival Mattered.
  • Encounters with the archdruid

Examples

  • It is from John McPhee's great book Encounters with the Archdruid.

    Academic text (1991)

  • I might be wrong, but I'm getting the vibe from the last few posts that the Archdruid believes that basically anything that didn't exist in 1830 or so will gradually disappear for good.

    Blog text (25)

  • Central to my event's story will be a benevolent archdruid and his society of green wizards.

    Blog text (12)

  • I'm sure you will understand how amusing it is to find myself encouraged to re-read Lewis by the writings of an Archdruid! :)

    Blog text (4)

  • As part of my own "Gaianomicon," I am culling the suggestions of the archdruid from the blog archives in one word file. i.e., conserve, compost, garden organically, and the related pointers.

    Blog text (9)

  • The archdruid led the ceremony to celebrate the turning of the seasons.

  • In ancient times, the archdruid served as a spiritual leader for the druids.

  • As the archdruid, she was responsible for guiding the rituals of the community.

Synonyms

chief
vsarchdruid
∞ 1.9

A person who leads a group or community

combines top group authority with sacred and ceremonial duties rather than only secular command
religious leader
vsarchdruid
43 3.4

A person who guides a group's religious beliefs and practices

is the top ranked ritual specialist rather than a general faith authority
spiritual leader
vsarchdruid
23 3.9

A person who guides others in religious beliefs and inner life

serves as the group's highest-ranking figure and ritual head rather than only guiding belief

Surface Forms

archdruid singular
archdruids plural

Morphology

archdruid = druid (transparent) = arch + druid

Formed by the productive English combining prefix 'arch-' meaning 'chief' and 'druid', so the meaning 'chief druid' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Archdruid combines the prefix arch- meaning 'chief' and druid, from an old Celtic word for a 'wise priest' often linked with oak trees. So an archdruid is the chief spiritual leader of a group, which explains the modern meaning.