Etymology

From Late Latin clēricus, from Ancient Greek κληρικός ‎(klērikós, “(adj. in church jargon) of the clergy”), from κλῆρος ‎(klêros, “the clergy, what is alloted, a lot, inheritance, originally a shard used in casting lots”), from Proto-Indo-European *kald-, *klād- ‎(“timber, log”), from Proto-Indo-European *kola-, *klā- ‎(“to beat, hew, break, destroy, kill”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɾɛ.ɾi.ɡo/