parish

name

1. A surname.
2. A town and village therein, in Oswego County, New York, United States.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English parisshe, from Old French paroisse (compare the obsolete variant paroch, from Anglo-Norman paroche, parosse), from Late Latin parochia, from Ancient Greek παροικία (paroikía, “a dwelling abroad”).

1. An administrative part of a diocese that has its own church.

   “With some of it on the south and more of it on the north of the great main thoroughfare that connects Aldgate and the East India Docks, St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London.”

   “Near-synonym: vicarate”

2. The community attending that church; the members of the parish.
3. An ecclesiastical society, usually not bounded by territorial limits, but composed of those persons who choose to unite under the charge of a particular priest, clergyman, or minister; also, loosely, the territory in which the members of a congregation live.
4. In any of various countries, an administrative subdivision of an area, often of a county.

   “Atlantic gales constantly buffet Morwenstow, whose seven hamlets together constitute Cornwall's most northerly parish. The village is dotted with trees moulded into weird shapes by the wind, and above the trees rise the vicarage chimneystacks resembling miniature church towers.”

5. In any of various countries, an administrative subdivision of an area, often of a county.

verb

1. Pronunciation spelling of perish, representing Mary–marry–merry merger English.