episcopacy
English edit
Etymology edit
From episcopa(te) + -cy and/or episcopa(l) + -cy.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
episcopacy (plural episcopacies)
- The office of bishop and the governance of a church (a religious denomination) by bishops.
- 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 16:
- Further religious division occurred during the post-Restoration decades in the reign of Charles II, when strenuous and violent efforts were made by the Government to impose an episcopacy on the Scottish Church.
- Bishops collectively: Synonym of episcopate.
Usage notes edit
Use as a capitalized proper noun ("the Episcopacy") refers to a specific episcopacy within the context of its particular church (where it is unique): usually and especially, the episcopacy of Anglicanism and Episcopalianism.
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
government of the church by bishops
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bishops collectively
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