bishop
Meaning
-
- An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.
- An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.
- (obsolete) The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc.
- (obsolete) Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker.
- A chief of the Festival of Fools or St. Nicholas Day.
- The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.
- Any of various African birds of the genus Euplectes; a kind of weaverbird closely related to the widowbirds.
- A ladybug or ladybird, beetles of the family Coccinellidae.
- A flowering plant of the genus Bifora.
- A sweet drink made from wine, usually with oranges, lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port.
- A bustle.
- A children's smock or pinafore.
Synonyms
member of higher orders of clergy
the episcopacy
the episcopate
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈbɪʃəp/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English bischop, bishop, bisshop, biscop, from Old English bisċop (“bishop”), from British Latin *biscopo or Vulgar Latin (e)biscopus, from classical Latin episcopus (“overseer, supervisor”), from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “overseer”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”), used in Greek and Latin both generally and as a title of civil officers. Cognate with all European terms for the position in various Christian churches; compare bisp.
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Notes