Prelate

6 definitions found

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

  Prelate \Prel"ate\ (?; 48), n. [F. pr['e]lat, LL. praelatus, fr.
     L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from
     a different root. See {Elate}.]
     A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a
     bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary
     of the church.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This word and the words derived from it are often used
           invidiously, in English ecclesiastical history, by
           dissenters, respecting the Established Church system.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Hear him but reason in divinity, . . .
                 You would desire the king were made a prelate.
                                                    --Shak.
           [1913 Webster]

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

  Prelate \Prel"ate\, v. i.
     To act as a prelate. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording.
                                                    --Latimer.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  prelate
       n : a senior clergyman and dignitary [syn: {archpriest}, {hierarch},
            {high priest}, {primate}]

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

  36 Moby Thesaurus words for "prelate":
     Grand Penitentiary, Holy Father, abuna, antipope, archbishop,
     archdeacon, archpriest, bishop, bishop coadjutor, canon, cardinal,
     cardinal bishop, cardinal deacon, cardinal priest, chaplain,
     coadjutor, curate, dean, diocesan, ecclesiarch, exarch, hierarch,
     high priest, metropolitan, papa, patriarch, penitentiary, pontiff,
     pope, prebendary, primate, rector, rural dean, subdean, suffragan,
     vicar
  
  

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

  PRELATE. The name of an ecclesiastical officer. There are two orders of 
  prelates; the first is composed of bishops, and the second, of abbots, 
  generals of orders, deans, &c. 
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  PRELATE, n.  A church officer having a superior degree of holiness and
  a fat preferment.  One of Heaven's aristocracy.  A gentleman of God.