episcopate

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: e=pis=co=pate

CIDE DICTIONARY

episcopate, n. [L. episcopatus, fr. episcopus: cf. F. épiscopat. See Bishop.].

•  A bishopric; the office and dignity of a bishop.  [1913 Webster]
•  The collective body of bishops.  [1913 Webster]
•  The time of a bishop's rule.  [1913 Webster]

episcopate, v. i. 

 To act as a bishop; to fill the office of a prelate.  [1913 Webster]
"Feeding the flock episcopating."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

episcopate, n.
1 the office or tenure of a bishop.
2 (prec. by the) the bishops collectively.

Etymology

eccl.L episcopatus f. episcopus BISHOP

ROGET THESAURUS

episcopate

Churchdom

N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.