Mythical patriarch presenting magistrate with a shortener (7,4) Crossword Clue
Answer: PRESTER JOHN (11 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Mythical patriarch presenting magistrate with a shortener (7,4)" with 11 letters is "PRESTER JOHN". Prester John is a legendary Christian patriarch and king, often depicted in medieval tales as ruling a distant, wealthy kingdom; the clue cleverly combines “presenting magistrate” (a “prester” as a priest/judge) with “John” as a common short form. This mythical figure symbolized hope and fascination in medieval Europe, inspiring explorers and chroniclers searching for his fabled realm.
Why “Prester John” Fits
The clue asks for a mythical patriarch, with wordplay in presenting magistrate with a shortener. The answer, PRESTER JOHN, matches neatly:
- Mythical patriarch: Prester John was a legendary Christian patriarch and king, often imagined in medieval Europe as ruling a distant, exotic kingdom.
- Presenting magistrate with a shortener: The word “prester” itself comes from a contraction of “presbyter,” meaning elder or priest (a kind of spiritual magistrate). “John” is commonly used as a shortened or representative name. Together, the parts form the full legendary figure.
The combination of exotic myth and a breakdown through shortened forms makes the clue both historic and cryptic.
- Prester John is a figure of medieval legend, first mentioned in the 12th century.
- European Christians believed him to be a powerful ruler somewhere in Asia or Africa, leading a Christian kingdom amid non-Christian territories.
- The story inspired explorers for centuries, including expeditions in search of his realm.
The name comes from the archaic “prester,” a variant of priest (derived from presbyter), and “John,” a common name used allegorically. Though mythical, the legend of Prester John shaped real-world geography, exploration, and Christian imagination during the Middle Ages.
- Quick crossword clues sometimes lean on myth, history, or literature.
- Here, the setter blends a direct definition (mythical patriarch) with etymological wordplay: “prester” as a shortened form of presbyter, and “John” as a classic placeholder name.
Recognizing shortened roots and how setters use common names often helps unlock these more obscure answers.
