Prester John

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈprɛstə/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pres′tər)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Pres′ter John′  (pres′tər),USA pronunciation 
  1. World Historya legendary Christian monk and potentate of the Middle Ages, supposed to have had a kingdom in some remote part of Asia or Africa and associated with fabulous narratives of travel.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Prester John /ˈprɛstə/ n
  1. a legendary Christian priest and king, believed in the Middle Ages to have ruled in the Far East, but identified in the 14th century with the king of Ethiopia
Etymology: 14th Century Prestre Johan, from Medieval Latin presbyter Iohannes Priest John

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