zhrets means slavic pagan priest. It carries an Arena rating of 1192, earned across 164 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, zhrets ranks #2,058 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #5,090 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #5,304 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #6,008 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
Why “zhrets” is a great word
ZHRETS — [Noun] A Slavic pagan priest whose solemn office was the performance of sacrificial rites. Borrowed from Russian жрец (žrec), from Proto-Slavic *žьrьcь, a derivative of *žьrti (“to sacrifice”). Unlike a volkhv, a priest-magician of prophecy and cosmic wisdom, or a vedun, a sorcerer of practical arcane knowledge, the zhrets was a ritual functionary, his authority bound to the altar. His was the hand steadying the ceremonial bowl, the shadow cast by the sacred flame upon the oak grove, the low chant carrying the scent of blood and barley to the gods—the appointed intermediary in a commerce of blood and smoke that has long since cooled to ash.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian жрец (žrec).
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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