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consistory Definition

con·sis·tory (kən sis′tə rē)

noun pl. -·ries

    1. Obsolete a meeting place for a council or court
    2. the meeting of a council
    1. a church council or court, as the papal senate, a council of deacons, etc.
    2. a session of such a body

Etymology: ME consistorie < OFr < L consistorium, place of assembly, council < consistere: see consist

consistory Related Forms
con′·sis·to′·rial (kän′sis tôr′ē əl) adjective
consistory Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • secret: The decision about who is to be made a cardinal is discussed in a secret consistory, but the ceremony appointing them is public.

Modifies a noun

  • court: The consistory courts are the courts of first instance of the Church of England.
  • record: Through examining consistory court records, Johansen describes the reasons behind the granting of divorces and the splitting up of familial assets.
  • case: The Measure, which led to consistory court cases involving adulterous vicars, is deemed by many to be expensive and cumbersome.
  • system: They are deemed necessary because the current consistory court system is too cumbersome and hardly ever used.