1.
[syn: episcopacy, episcopate]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Episcopacy \E*pis"co*pa*cy\, 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
episcopacy
n 1: the collective body of bishops [syn: episcopacy,
episcopate]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
109 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
EPISCOPACY, eccl. law. A form of government by diocesan bishops; the office
or condition of a bishop.