browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about consistory
consistory |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Consistory \Con*sis"to*ry\ (? or ?; 277) n.; pl {Consistories}. [L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr consistere: cf F. consistoire It consistorio See {Consist}.] 1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence any solemn assembly or council. To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. --Milton. 2. (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. --Hook. 3. (R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. --Bacon. 4. A church tribunal or governing body. Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs. 5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] --Chaucer. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Consistory \Con*sis"to*ry\, a. Of the nature of or pertaining to a consistory. ``To hold consistory session.'' --Strype. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: consistory n : a church tribunal or governing body
more about consistory