prelacy
Americannoun
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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:
As the first settlers of Massachusetts, whether Puritan or Pilgrim, had fled away from prelacy, so their spiritual descendants still hated the name of bishop.
From The Siege of Boston by French, Allen
But Dering appears only really to have aimed at the abolition of Laud's archiepiscopacy, and to have wished to see some purer form of prelacy re-established in place of the old.
From Books Condemned to be Burnt by Farrer, James Anson
Yet notwithstanding of all opposition, prelacy was again restored in parliament.
From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander
For no sooner did prelacy and Erastianism appear on the field, in opposition to our antient and laudable form of church-government, at the restoration of Charles II. than he took part with the presbyterian side.
From Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies by Howie, John
The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah
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.
