priestly, brush off, sacerdotal

For critics, the novels were merely publishing successes or even wasteful diversions from sociological scholarship. For Father Greeley, they were “the most priestly thing I have ever done.”

priestly

Pronunciation: /ˈpriːstli/

Definition of priestly

adjective

• relating to or befitting a priest or priests:performing priestly duties

Derivatives

priestliness

noun

Origin:

Old English prēostlic (see priest, -ly¹)

sacerdotal
(sas-uhr-DOHT-l, sak-)

adjective
Of or relating to priests: priestly.

Etymology
Via French from Latin sacerdotalis (priestly), from sacerdos (priest, literally one who offers sacrifices), from sacer (holy, sacred) + dare (to give).

Usage
"My student came from a country where professors hold a sacerdotal status and so took my jest as a brushoff." David D Perlmutter; Are You A Good Protege?; Chronicle of Higher Education (Washington, DC); Apr 18, 2008.


brushoffalso
n.
An abrupt dismissal or snub.


ismiss or rebuff, as in Roberta brushed off the poor reviews with a shrug, or You can't brush off a boyfriend and expect him to do you a favor. This expression, transferring sweeping off crumbs to a curt dismissal, was first recorded about 1820. However, it became common usage only in the 1930s. Also see give someone the air (brush off).