prelate
/'prelit/
Definition
- Noun:
- A senior clergyman and dignitary: A "prelate" is a high-ranking member of the clergy, such as a bishop, archbishop, or cardinal, who holds a position of authority and dignity within a church hierarchy.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The prelate presided over the important ecclesiastical council. (The senior clergyman presided over the important church council.)
- As a prelate, his duties included overseeing several dioceses. (As a high-ranking church dignitary, his duties included overseeing several dioceses.)
Advanced Usage
- "Prince of the Church": This is an honorary title sometimes used for a cardinal, who is a type of prelate.
- The new prelate was also created a Prince of the Church. (The new senior clergyman was also given the honorary title of Prince of the Church.)
Variants and Related Words
- Prelacy (n): The office or term of office of a prelate; also, prelates collectively.
- He was elevated to the prelacy last year. (He was promoted to the office of a high-ranking clergyman last year.)
- Prelatical (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a prelate.
- The ceremony had a prelatical grandeur. (The ceremony had the grandeur characteristic of a high church dignitary.)
Synonyms
- Bishop: A senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese.
- Dignitary: A person considered important because of high rank or office.
- Ecclesiarch: A ruler or high official in a church (a more formal synonym).
Related Phrases
- Lords Spiritual: In the UK, this collective term refers to the bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords, all of whom are prelates.
- The debate included several of the Lords Spiritual. (The debate included several of the high-ranking bishops.)
Related Idioms
- To wear the purple: An idiom referring to being appointed as a cardinal (a type of prelate), as cardinals traditionally wear scarlet or purple robes.
- After decades of service, he finally wore the purple. (After decades of service, he was finally appointed a cardinal.)
Noun
-
a senior clergyman and dignitary
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