archiepiscopacy

English

Etymology

archi- +‎ episcopacy

Noun

archiepiscopacy (plural archiepiscopacies)

1. (ecclesiastical) The form of episcopacy in which the chief power is in the hands of archbishops.
2. (ecclesiastical) The position or dignity of an archbishop.

   Synonym: archbishopric

   • 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 54”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 292:

     ‘Though there are no Auto-da-Fés in Lima now,’ said one of the company to another; ‘I fear our sailor friend runs risk of the archiepiscopacy. Let us withdraw more out of the moonlight. […] ’