consistory

con·sis·to·ry  (kn-sst-r)

n. pl. con·sis·to·ries

1.

a. Roman Catholic Church An assembly of cardinals presided over by the pope for the solemn promulgation of papal acts, such as the canonization of a saint.

b. A governing body of a local congregation in certain Reformed churches.

c. A court appointed to regulate ecclesiastical affairs in Lutheran state churches.

d. An Anglican diocesan court presided over by a bishop's chancellor or commissary.

2. The meeting of a consistory.

3. A council; a tribunal.

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[Middle English consistorie, from Old French, from Latin cnsistrium, place of assembly, from cnsistere, to stand together; see consist.]

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consis·tori·al (kns-stôr-l, -str-) adj.

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consistory [kənˈsɪstərɪ]

n pl -ries

1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Church of England

a.  the court of a diocese (other than Canterbury) administering ecclesiastical law

b.  the area in a church where the consistory meets

2. (Christianity / Roman Catholic Church) RC Church an assembly of the cardinals and the pope

3. (Christianity / Protestantism) (in certain Reformed Churches) the governing body of a local congregation or church

4. Archaic a council or assembly

[from Old French consistorie, from Medieval Latin consistōrium ecclesiastical tribunal, ultimately from Latin consistere to stand still]

consistorial  [ˌkɒnsɪˈstɔːrɪəl], consistorian adj

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Consistory a solemn council; a court; an ecclesiastical senate. See also conclave.

Examples: consistory of bishops, of martyrs, 1641; of saints, 1641; of senators, 1660.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

consistory - a church tribunal or governing body court, judicature, tribunal - an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business