Padre | ‖n.; pl. Sp. & Pg. Padres It. Padri /plu>. [ Sp., Pg., & It., fr. L. pater father. See Father. ] 1. A Christian priest or monk; used as a term of address for priests in some churches (especially Roman or Orthodox Catholic in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Spanish America); -- also used in the American military. Syn. -- Father. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] 2. In India (from the Portuguese), any Christian minister; also, a priest of the native region. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] 3. A chaplain in one of the military services. Syn. -- military chaplain, Holy Joe, sky pilot. [ WordNet 1.5 ] |