bishop

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

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
port wine mulled with oranges and cloves
(chess) a piece that can be moved diagonally over unoccupied squares of the same color

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Bishop \Bish"op\, n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.] [1913 Webster]

1.A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director. [1913 Webster]

Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.— 1 Pet. ii. 25.[1913 Webster]

It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the church is called indifferently "bishop" ( ? ) and "elder" or "presbyter."— J. B. Lightfoot.[1913 Webster]

2.In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a diocese, bishopric, or see. [1913 Webster]

Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C. Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. --Shipley.

Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus.

Bench of Bishops. See under Bench. [1913 Webster]

3.In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the highest church officers or superintendents. [1913 Webster]

4.A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a bishop's miter; -- formerly called archer. [1913 Webster]

5.A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

6.An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]

If, by her bishop, or her "grace" alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known.— Saxe.[1913 Webster]

Bishop \Bish"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to receive formally to favor. [1913 Webster]

Bishop \Bish"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] [From the name of the scoundrel who first practiced it. Youatt.] (Far.) To make seem younger, by operating on the teeth; as, to bishop an old horse or his teeth. [1913 Webster]

Note: The plan adopted is to cut off all the nippers with a saw to the proper length, and then with a cutting instrument the operator scoops out an oval cavity in the corner nippers, which is afterwards burnt with a hot iron until it is black. --J. H. Walsh. [1913 Webster]

Bustle \Bus"tle\, n. A kind of pad or cushion worn on the back below the waist, by women, to give fullness to the skirts; -- called also bishop, and tournure. [1913 Webster]