curia

[ kyoor-ee-uh ]

/ ˈkyʊər i ə /

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noun, plural cu·ri·ae

[kyoor-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.

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Origin of curia

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

OTHER WORDS FROM curia

cu·ri·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use curia in a sentence

Only two Europeans were chosen outside the Curial appointments.
Pope Appoints a Rainbow Coalition of New Cardinals From Africa, Asia|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is only one Italian on the list, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, who is not part of the Roman curial inner circle.
Pope Francis’s Posse|Barbie Latza Nadeau|April 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
An older pope who does not know which curial offices and officers need the ax, will be even easier to ignore than Benedict.
What Catholics Think of Pope Francis|Ilana Glazer|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No doubt several cardinals who will be most affected by a thorough curial housecleaning were thinking the same thing.
Conspiracy Theories Behind Pope Francis’s Election|Barbie Latza Nadeau|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST

He may be an exception, but his example proves that grace can confound the expectations and machinations of curial politics.
The Catholic Church Is Insular and Intolerant|Robert Shrum|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
An English translation of his "Curial" was printed by Caxton without date.
The Boke of Noblesse|Unknown
This criticism applies, mutatis mutandis, to what may be called the Curial system of Dublin Castle.
Handbook of Home Rule (1887)|W. E. Gladstone et al.
Their commander, General Curial, reiterated what Belliard had said.
Military Career of Napoleon the Great|Montgomery B. Gibbs
Their commander, General Curial, gave the same answers as Belliard.
The History of Napoleon Buonaparte|John Gibson Lockhart
I saw by the way their things were packed in the curial that they did not intend to return for some days.
Wanderings in South America|Charles Waterton

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 of curia

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