Part 1995

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The privilege or benefit of clergy.</def>

<blockquote>If convicted of a clergyable felony, he is entitled equally to his <b>clergy</b> after as before conviction. <i>Blackstone.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Benefit of clergy</col> <fld>(Eng., Law)</fld>, <cd>the exemption of the persons of clergymen from criminal process before a secular judge -- a privilege which was extended to all who could read, such persons being, in the eye of the law, <i>clerici<i>, or clerks. This privilege was abridged and modified by various statutes, and finally abolished in the reign of George IV. (1827).</cd> -- <mcol><col>Regular clergy</col>, <col>Secular clergy</col></mcol> <cd>See <er>Regular</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, and <er>Secular</er>, <tt>a.</tt></cd></cs>

<h1>Clergyable</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"gy*a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Entitled to, or admitting, the benefit of clergy; <as>as, a <ex>clergyable</ex> felony</as>.</def>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<h1>Clergyman</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"gy*man</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Clergymen</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>.</plu> <def>An ordained minister; a man regularly authorized to peach the gospel, and administer its ordinances; in England usually restricted to a minister of the Established Church.</def>

<h1>Cleric</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS., fr. L. <ets>clericus</ets>. See <er>Clerk</er>.]</ety> <def>A clerk, a clergyman.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Bp. Horsley.</i>

<h1>Cleric</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Same as <er>Clerical</er>.</def>

<h1>Clerical</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"ic*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>clericalis</ets>. <ets>See</ets> <er>Clerk</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy.</def> "A <i>clerical</i> education."

<i>Burke.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing.</def> "<i>Clerical</i> work."

<i>E. Everett.</i>

<cs><col>A clerical error</col>, <cd>an error made in copying or writing.</cd></cs>

<h1>Clericalism</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"ic*al*ism</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An excessive devotion to the interests of the sacerdotal order; undue influence of the clergy; sacerdotalism.</def>

<h1>Clericity</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler*ic"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being a clergyman.</def>

<h1>Clerisy</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cler"i*sy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>clericia</ets>. See <er>Clergy</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The literati, or well educated class.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The clergy, or their opinions, as opposed to the laity.</def>

<h1>Clerk</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clerk</hw> <tt>(?; in Eng. ?; 277)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Either OF. <ets>clerc</ets>, fr. L. <ets>clericus</ets> a priest, or AS. <ets>clerc</ets>, <ets>cleric</ets>, clerk, priest, fr. L. <ets>clericus</ets>, fr. Gr. <?/ belonging to the clergy, fr. <?/ lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. <er>Clergy</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A clergyman or ecclesiastic.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>