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:
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
The Sovereign Pontiff and the flower of the Roman prelacy begged her to take up her residence in the Eternal City, but she could not be prevailed upon to leave the land of her birth.
From Woman in Science With an Introductory Chapter on Woman's Long Struggle for Things of the Mind by Zahm, John Augustine
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
See that objection of hearing prelatical men in the time of former prelacy, answered above, Period 4.
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
This confraternity embraces the flower of the Roman prelacy, the patrician order and the priesthood.”
From Pius IX. And His Time by Dawson, Æneas MacDonell
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.
