episcopacy

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: e=pis=co=pa=cy

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.

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, viziership

ROGET 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.