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
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.
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
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
The Cavaliers being the Court party, and the Roundheads the Country party, the union was infallible betwixt the former and the established prelacy, and betwixt the latter and Presbyterian nonconformists.
From Essays by Hume, David
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 Sue, Eugène
As for Mrs. Lee, she was so proud of the honor of being aunt to a minister, that she almost forgot her dislike to prelacy.
From Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 3 September 1848 by Various
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.
