Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The Holy Spirit.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Originally, one called in to aid, intercede for, or defend, especially in a legal process; a favorable witness, a friend, or an advocate; an intercessor, helper, consoler, or comforter; specifically [capitalized], the Holy Ghost; the Comforter.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; -- a term applied to the Holy Spirit.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the third person in the Trinity; Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his Crucifixion and Resurrection; it came on Pentecost

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English Paraclit, from Old French Paraclet, from Latin Paraclētus, from Greek Paraklētos, from parakalein, to invoke : para-, to the side of; see para– + kalein, klē-, to call; see kelə- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • In time he built a structure of wood and stone, which he called the Paraclete, some remains of which can still be seen.

    Famous Affinities of History — Complete Lyndon Orr

  • In time he built a structure of wood and stone, which he called the Paraclete, some remains of which can still be seen.

    Famous Affinities of History — Volume 1 Lyndon Orr

  • St. Gildas, in the twelfth century, had Abelard for superior, who, on his appointment, made over to Eloise the celebrated abbey he had founded at Nogent, near Troyes, which he called the Paraclete or Comforter, because he there found comfort and refreshment after his troubles, but his peace soon ended on his arrival in Brittany.

    Brittany & Its Byways Fanny Bury Palliser

  • The Rhemists, and Dr. Hammond, are for retaining the Greek word Paraclete; we read, Acts ix. 31, of the paraklesis tou hagiou pneumatos, the comfort of the Holy Ghost, including his whole office as a paraclete.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John) 1721

  • Hence the name Paraclete, and hence the twofold application of this name to the Son and to the Spirit, for both are our representatives and our advocates with God.

    The Beginnings of Christianity. Vol. II. 1872-1939 1904

  • The name Paraclete as applied to the Holy Ghost meant the Consoler, the Comforter, the Spirit of Love and Grace; as applied to the oratory by Abelard it meant a renewal of his challenge to theologists, a separation of the Persons in the Trinity, a vulgarization of the mystery; and, as his story frankly says, it was so received by many.

    Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres Henry Adams 1878

  • I was going to tell you that my house is so monastic, that I have a little hall decked with long saints in lean arched windows, and with taper columns, which we call the Paraclete, in memory of Eloisa's cloister. (

    The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 2 Horace Walpole 1757

  • {34} "The name Paraclete is applied to Christ as well as to the Spirit; and properly: For it is the common office of each to console and encourage us and to preserve us by their defense.

    The Ministry of the Spirit 1865

  • He, however, having returned to the Pleroma, and being probably unwilling again to descend from it, sent forth to her the Paraclete, that is, the Saviour.

    ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus 1819-1893 2001

  • Full often did I groan: "Justly has this sorrow come upon me because I deserted the Paraclete, which is to say the Consoler, and thrust myself into sure desolation; seeking to shun threats I fled to certain peril."

    Historia Calamitatum: The Story of My Misfortunes 1922

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