consistory

[kuh n-sis-tuh-ree]

noun, plural con·sis·to·ries.

any of various ecclesiastical councils or tribunals.

the place where such a council or tribunal meets.

the meeting of any such body.

Roman Catholic Church. a solemn assembly of the whole body of cardinals, summoned and presided over by the pope.

Anglican Church. a diocesan court for dealing with ecclesiastical and spiritual questions, held in the cathedral church and presided over by the bishop, the bishop's chancellor, or the commissary.

(in certain Reformed churches) the governing board of a local church or congregation.

any assembly or council.

Obsolete. a council chamber.

Origin of consistory

1275–1325; Middle English consistorie < Anglo-French < Late Latin consistōrium meeting place, equivalent to Latin consist(ere) (see consist) + -(t)ōrium -tory²

Related formscon·sis·to·ri·al

[kon-si-stawr-ee-uh l, -stohr-] /ˌkɒn sɪˈstɔr i əl, -ˈstoʊr-/, con·sis·to·ri·an, adjectivenon·con·sis·to·ri·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for consistory

Contemporary Examples of consistory

But at a consistory of cardinals in Vatican City on Monday, Francis made his case.
The Pope’s Risky Trip
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 21, 2014

Historical Examples of consistory

Not a soul approved this promotion when it was announced at the consistory.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
In the Canton of Vauvert, where there was a consistory church, 80,000 francs were extorted.
Fox's Book of Martyrs
John Foxe
On January 2, 1821, the property was finally deeded to the consistory.
The Kirk on Rutgers Farm
Frederick Brckbauer
In 1843, on the land back of the church the "Consistory Building" was erected.
The Kirk on Rutgers Farm
Frederick Brckbauer
Her consistory was reproduced in all these French-speaking local Churches.
A History of the Reformation (Vol. 2 of 2)
Thomas M. Lindsay

British Dictionary definitions for consistory

consistory

noun plural -ries

Church of England

the court of a diocese (other than Canterbury) administering ecclesiastical law
the area in a church where the consistory meets

RC Church an assembly of the cardinals and the pope

(in certain Reformed Churches) the governing body of a local congregation or church

archaic a council or assembly

Derived Formsconsistorial (ˌkɒnsɪˈstɔːrɪəl) or consistorian, adjective

Word Origin for consistory

C14: from Old French consistorie, from Medieval Latin consistōrium ecclesiastical tribunal, ultimately from Latin consistere to stand still

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for consistory

c.1300, "secular tribunal," from Old North French consistorie (Old French consistoire, 12c.) and directly from Late Latin consistorium "waiting room, meeting place of the imperial council," from Latin consistere (see consist). Meaning "Church council" is from early 14c.