Bishop Definition

bĭshəp
bishops
noun
A high-ranking Christian cleric, in modern churches usually in charge of a diocese and in some churches regarded as having received the highest ordination in unbroken succession from the apostles.
American Heritage
A high-ranking member of the Christian clergy having authority, variously, over other clergy and usually supervising a diocese or church district.
Webster's New World
A usually miter-shaped chess piece that can move diagonally across any number of unoccupied spaces.
American Heritage
A lay church officer who presides over a ward.
Webster's New World
Mulled port spiced with oranges, sugar, and cloves.
American Heritage
verb

(now historical) To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm.

Wiktionary

(obsolete) To make (a horse) seem younger, by cutting its teeth short, then scooping out an oval cavity in the corner nippers and burning it black with a hot iron.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Bishop

Noun

Singular:
bishop
Plural:
bishops

Origin of Bishop

  • From Middle English bishop, from Old English biscop (“bishop”), from Vulgar Latin *biscopus, from Latin episcopus (“overseer, supervisor”), from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos, “overseer”), from ἐπί (epi, “over”) + σκοπέω (skopeō, “I examine”). Cognate with West Frisian biskop (“bishop”), Dutch bisschop (“bishop”), German Bischof (“bishop”), Swedish biskop (“bishop”), Norwegian biskop (“bishop”), Icelandic biskup (“bishop”), Gothic [script?] (aipiskaupus, “bishop”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English bisceope from Vulgar Latin ebiscopus from Late Latin episcopus from Late Greek episkopos from Greek overseer epi- epi- skopos watcher spek- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From the surname of the person who first practised it.

    From Wiktionary

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