catholicos

noun

ca·​thol·​i·​cos kə-ˈthȯ-li-kȯs How to pronounce catholicos (audio)
plural catholicoses kə-ˈthȯ-li-kȯ-səz How to pronounce catholicos (audio) or catholicoi kə-ˈthȯ-li-ˌkȯi How to pronounce catholicos (audio)
often capitalized
: a primate of certain Eastern churches and especially of the Armenian or of the Nestorian church

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek katholikos, from Greek, general

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of catholicos was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near catholicos

Cite this Entry

“Catholicos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catholicos. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on catholicos

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!