prelacy
Americannoun
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prelacies
plural
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the office or dignity of a prelate, or high-ranking member of the Christian clergy.
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the order of prelates.
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the body of prelates collectively.
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Sometimes Disparaging. the system of church government by prelates.
noun
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Also called: prelature.
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the office or status of a prelate
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prelates collectively
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Also called: prelatism. derogatory government of the Church by prelates
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of prelacy
1275–1325; Middle English prelacie < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin praelātia. See prelate, -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Since these in part refused to submit voluntarily and attempted to assert their traditional independence, the pontificate of Gregory is crowded with struggles against the higher ranks of the prelacy.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various
The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Noah Webster
This happened during the prelacy of Geoffrey de Servin.
From Architectural Antiquities of Normandy by John Sell Cotman
This confraternity embraces the flower of the Roman prelacy, the patrician order and the priesthood.”
From Pius IX. And His Time by Æneas MacDonell Dawson
Alas, the prelacy has preferred to reign over a brutified people; they did not like to live a simple life among a free people.
From The Poniard's Hilt Or Karadeucq and Ronan. A Tale of Bagauders and Vagres by Eugène Sue
My honour and my manly dignity are of greater value in my eyes than all your livings, prelacies, and mitres; and I am ready to defend my honour against every one, even against Dr. Ritter.
From John Ronge: The Holy Coat Of Treves New German-Catholic Chruch by Anonymous
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
