curia

[ kyoo r-ee-uh ]

/ ˈkyʊər i ə /

noun, plural cu·ri·ae [kyoo r-ee-ee] /ˈkyʊər iˌi/.

one of the political subdivisions of each of the three tribes of ancient Rome.

the building in which such a division or group met, as for worship or public deliberation.

the senate house in ancient Rome.

the senate of an ancient Italian town.

(sometimes initial capital letter) Curia Romana.

the papal court.

the administrative aides of a bishop.

Nearby words

curet, curettage, curette, curettement, curfew, curia, curia regis, curia romana, curie, curie point, curie's law

Origin of curia

1590–1600; < Latin cūria, perhaps < *coviria, equivalent to co- co- + vir man + -ia -ia

Related forms

cu·ri·al, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for curia

“In the Curia there are holy people, truly holy people,” Francis reportedly told the Latin American delegation.
Vatican’s Pope-Protecting Swiss Guards Accused Of Secret Gay Lobby|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he has only been in the job for six months, and his promise of reforming the Curia may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Pope Francis’s Rough Road to Reform|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
By the time the group officially meets, the pope will have likely already shaken up the Curia with new appointments for key roles.
Pope Francis’s Posse|Barbie Latza Nadeau|April 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Then he suddenly summoned the Vatican Council II, whose reforms the Curia and recent popes have in effect sought to roll back.
The Catholic Church Is Insular and Intolerant|Robert Shrum|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

"The events of recent days involving the Curia and my collaborators have brought sadness to my heart," he said.
VatiLeaks Strikes Again: Was the Butler Framed?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|June 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Tho people, with whom he was a favourite, burnt his body in the Curia Hostilia, and the Curia with it.
Plutarch's Lives Volume III.|Plutarch
There is a possibility that the curia may be the basilica on the Corso terrace of the city.
A Study Of The Topography And Municipal History Of Praeneste|Ralph Van Deman Magoffin
They belonged to no gens or curia, but were free, and allowed to engage in trade and to own property.
History of Rome from the Earliest times down to 476 AD|Robert F. Pennell
Fra Martino, a violent little monk, was pouring out vials of wrath against the extortions of the Curia Romana.
The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci|Dmitry Sergeyevich Merezhkovsky
If Luther had fallen 597 into his hands the Curia would no doubt have found some means of letting the pestilent fellow off.
The Makers of Modern Rome|Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

British Dictionary definitions for curia

curia

/ (ˈkjʊərɪə) /

noun plural -riae (-rɪˌiː)

(sometimes capital) the papal court and government of the Roman Catholic Church

(in ancient Rome)

any of the ten subdivisions of the Latin, Sabine, or Etruscan tribes
a meeting place of such a subdivision
the senate house of Rome
the senate of an Italian town under Roman administration

(in the Middle Ages) a court held in the king's nameSee also Curia Regis

Derived Forms

curial, adjective

Word Origin for curia

C16: from Latin, from Old Latin coviria (unattested), from co- + vir man

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