Episcopacy

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Episcopacy \E*pis"co*pa*cy\, n. [See {Episcopate}.]
     Government of the church by bishops; church government by
     three distinct orders of ministers -- bishops, priests, and
     deacons -- of whom the bishops have an authority superior and
     of a different kind.
     [1913 Webster]



From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  109 Moby Thesaurus words for "episcopacy":
     abbacy, aedileship, archbishopric, archdeaconry, archiepiscopacy,
     archiepiscopate, aristocracy, bishopdom, bishopric, canonicate,
     canonry, cardinalship, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate,
     chancellorship, chaplaincy, chaplainship, chiefery, chiefry,
     chieftaincy, chieftainry, chieftainship, consulate, consulship,
     curacy, deaconry, deaconship, deanery, deanship, dictatorship,
     dictature, directorship, emirate, episcopate, governorship,
     headship, hegemony, hierarchy, leadership, lordship, magistracy,
     magistrateship, magistrature, masterdom, mastership, mastery,
     mayoralty, mayorship, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, nobility,
     papacy, pashadom, pashalic, pastorate, pastorship, patriarchate,
     patriarchy, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood,
     popeship, prebend, prebendaryship, prefectship, prefecture,
     prelacy, prelateship, prelature, premiership, presbyterate,
     presbytery, presidency, presidentship, primacy, prime-ministership,
     prime-ministry, princedom, princeship, principality, proconsulate,
     proconsulship, protectorate, protectorship, provostry, provostship,
     rectorate, rectorship, regency, regentship, ruling class,
     seigniory, seneschalship, seneschalsy, sheikhdom, sheriffalty,
     sheriffcy, sheriffdom, shrievalty, supervisorship, suzerainship,
     suzerainty, tribunate, vicariate, vicarship, vizierate,
     viziership
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  EPISCOPACY, eccl. law. A form of government by diocesan bishops; the office 
  or condition of a bishop.