ec·cle·si·ast \-zēˌast, -ēə̇st, -ēˌaa(ə)st\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English ecclesiaste, from Late Latin ecclesiastes, from Greek ekklēsiastēs, literally, member of a Greek ecclesia, from ekklēsia church, ecclesia + -astēs -ast 1.: ecclesiastic 2.: a member of the Athenian ecclesia