re·demp·tor·ist \rə̇ˈdem(p)tərə̇st, rēˈ-\noun (-s) Usage: capitalized Etymology: French rédemptoriste, from Late Latin redemptor + French -iste -ist : a member of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer founded in Naples in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori and devoted to preaching to the poor