curia

cu·ri·a  (kr-, kyr-)

n. pl. cu·ri·ae (kr-, kyr-)

1.

a. One of the ten primitive subdivisions of a tribe in early Rome, consisting of ten gentes.

b. The assembly place of such a subdivision.

2.

a. The Roman senate or any of the various buildings in which it met in republican Rome.

b. The place of assembly of high councils in various Italian cities under Roman administration.

3. The ensemble of central administrative and governmental services in imperial Rome.

4. often Curia Roman Catholic Church The central administration governing the Church.

5.

a. A medieval assembly or council.

b. A medieval royal court of justice.

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[Latin cria, council, curia; see w-ro- in Indo-European roots.]

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curi·al adj.

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Curia

Noun

pl -riae the court and government of the Roman Catholic Church [Latin]

curial adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Curia - (Roman Catholic Church) the central administration governing the Roman Catholic Church Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy governance, governing body, organisation, administration, brass, establishment, organization - the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something; "he claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the governance of an association is responsible to its members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment"