prelacy

prel·a·cy  (prl-s)

n. pl. prel·a·cies

1.

a. The office or station of a prelate.

b. Prelates considered as a group. Also called prelature.

2. Church government administrated by prelates.

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prelacy [ˈprɛləsɪ]

n pl -cies

1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Also called prelature [ˈprɛlɪtʃə]

a.  the office or status of a prelate

b.  prelates collectively

2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) Also called prelatism [ˈprɛləˌtɪzəm] Often derogatory government of the Church by prelates

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Prelacy body of prelates or bishops, collectively, 1300.

Example: the prelacy of the Lord, 1494.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	prelacy - prelates collectively prelature clergy - in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)
	2.	prelacy - the office or station of a prelate prelature berth, billet, post, situation, position, office, place, spot - a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the treasury"

Translations

prelacy

n (= office) → Prälatur f; (= bishops etc) → geistliche Würdenträger pl; (= system) → Kirchenhierarchie f