suffragan (redirected from bishops suffragan)

suf·fra·gan  (sfr-gn)

n. Abbr. Suff. or Suffr.

1. A bishop elected or appointed as an assistant to the bishop or ordinary of a diocese, having administrative and episcopal responsibilities but no jurisdictional functions.

2. A bishop regarded in position as subordinate to an archbishop or a metropolitan.

adj.

Of, being, or relating to a suffragan.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin suffrgneus, voting, supporting, from Latin suffrgium, support, right to vote, from suffrgr, to express support; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots.]

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suffra·gan·ship n.

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suffragan

Noun

a bishop appointed to assist an archbishop [Medieval Latin suffragium assistance]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

suffragan - an assistant or subordinate bishop of a diocese suffragan bishop bishop - a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ