as in clergies
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church
a nation in which the first estate had long held a privileged position
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for first estates
churches
Noun
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Hong Kong — A pastor who founded one of China’s most prominent underground churches has been released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States, his daughter told CNN.
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The Zion Church is among the largest churches that are unregistered with the Chinese authorities, defying restrictions from the officially atheist Communist Party requiring believers to worship only in registered congregations.
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“First estates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first%20estates. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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