Word Study
episcopacy
CIDE DICTIONARY
episcopacy, n. [See Episcopate.].
Government of the church by bishops; church government by three distinct orders of ministers -- bishops, priests, and deacons -- of whom the bishops have an authority superior and of a different kind. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
episcopacy, n. (pl. -ies)
1 government of a Church by bishops.
2 (prec. by the) the bishops.
1 government of a Church by bishops.
2 (prec. by the) the bishops.
THESAURUS
episcopacy
abbacy, aedileship, archbishopric, archdeaconry, archiepiscopacy, archiepiscopate, aristocracy, bishopdom, bishopric, canonicate, canonry, cardinalship, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate, chancellorship, chaplaincy, chaplainship, chiefery, chiefry, chieftaincy, chieftainry, chieftainship, consulate, consulship, curacy, deaconry, deaconship, deanery, deanship, dictatorship, dictature, directorship, emirate, episcopate, governorship, headship, hegemony, hierarchy, leadership, lordship, magistracy, magistrateship, magistrature, masterdom, mastership, mastery, mayoralty, mayorship, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, nobility, papacy, pashadom, pashalic, pastorate, pastorship, patriarchate, patriarchy, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood, popeship, prebend, prebendaryship, prefectship, prefecture, prelacy, prelateship, prelature, premiership, presbyterate, presbytery, presidency, presidentship, primacy, prime-ministership, prime-ministry, princedom, princeship, principality, proconsulate, proconsulship, protectorate, protectorship, provostry, provostship, rectorate, rectorship, regency, regentship, ruling class, seigniory, seneschalship, seneschalsy, sheikhdom, sheriffalty, sheriffcy, sheriffdom, shrievalty, supervisorship, suzerainship, suzerainty, tribunate, vicariate, vicarship, vizierate, viziershipROGET THESAURUS
episcopacy
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.For further exploring for "episcopacy" in Webster Dictionary Online