- Obsolete a ruler, governor, or leader
- an Episcopal minister in charge of a parish
- Ch. of England
- a member of the clergy who holds the rights and tithes of a parish
- the priest leading a team ministry
- a priest heading a seminary, college, etc.
- sometimes, a pastor or other head priest
- in certain schools, colleges, and universities, the head or headmaster
Origin of rectorMiddle English ; from Classical Latin ; from past participle of regere, to rule: see right
- A cleric in charge of a parish in the Episcopal Church.
- An Anglican parish priest in a parish where historically the priest was entitled to the tithes.
- A Roman Catholic priest appointed to be managerial as well as spiritual head of a church or other institution, such as a seminary or university.
- The principal of certain schools, colleges, and universities.
Origin of rectorMiddle English, from Old French, from Latin rēctor, director, from , rēctus past participle of regere, to rule; see reg- in Indo-European roots.