prelate

prelate
—prelateship, n. —prelatic /pri lat"ik/, adj.
/prel"it/, n.
an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.; a church dignitary.
[1175-1225; ME prelat < ML praelatus a civil or ecclesiastical dignitary, n. use of L praelatus (ptp. of praeferre to PREFER), equiv. to prae- PRE- + latus, suppletive ptp. of ferre to BEAR1]

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▪ ecclesiastical title
      an ecclesiastical dignitary of high rank. In the modern Roman Catholic church (Roman Catholicism), prelates are those who exercise the public power of the church. True prelacy is defined as “preeminence with jurisdiction,” and true, or real, prelates are distinguished as (1) greater prelates, those who possess episcopal jurisdiction (such as patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops), and (2) lesser prelates, those who possess a quasi-episcopal or other jurisdiction (such as abbots and prelates “of no diocese” and religious superiors, withdrawn from the ordinary diocesan jurisdiction).

      In some Protestant churches the title of prelate was retained after the Reformation. The Church of England (England, Church of) restricts it to bishops.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Prelate — • The holder of a prelature Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Prelate     Prelate     † Cat …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Prelate — Prel ate (?; 48), n. [F. pr[ e]lat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See {Elate}.] A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prelate — Prel ate, v. i. To act as a prelate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording. Latimer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prélaté — prélaté, ée (entrée créée par le supplément) (pré la té, tée) adj. Qui est couvert ou garni de prélat ou prélart. En aval de Thermonde, sur le bas Escaut, il [le bateau] doit être couvert en bois ou prélaté, Extrait des conditions générales des… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • prelate — [prel′it] n. [ME prelat < OFr < LL(Ec) praelatus, prelate, orig., ruler < pp. of L praeferre, to place before, PREFER] a high ranking ecclesiastic, as a bishop prelateship n. prelatic [prē lat′ik, prilat′ik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • prelate — c.1200, from M.L. prelatus clergyman of high rank, from L. prelatus one preferred, from praelatus, serving as pp. of praeferre (see PREFER (Cf. prefer)), from prae before + latus borne, carried (see OBLATE (Cf. oblate …   Etymology dictionary

  • prelate — ► NOUN formal or historical ▪ a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary. ORIGIN Latin praelatus civil dignitary …   English terms dictionary

  • Prelate — A prelate is a high ranking member of the clergy who either is an ordinary or ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from Latin prælatus , the past participle of præferre , literally, carry before, or to be set above, or over, or… …   Wikipedia

  • prelate — UK [ˈprelət] / US noun [countable] Word forms prelate : singular prelate plural prelates an official of high rank in the Christian Church such as a bishop or a cardinal …   English dictionary

  • prelate — noun /ˈprɛlət/ A clergyman of high rank and authority, having jurisdiction over an area or a group of people; normally a bishop. See Also: prelacy, prelatial, prelation, prelature, Personal Prelate, Opus Dei …   Wiktionary

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