consistory

(kən sistə rē)

noun pl. consistories

    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

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

Related Forms:

See consistory in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. con·sis·to·ries
  1. a. Roman Catholic Church An assembly of cardinals presided over by the pope for the solemn promulgation of papal acts, such as the canonization of a saint.
    b. A governing body of a local congregation in certain Reformed churches.
    c. A court appointed to regulate ecclesiastical affairs in Lutheran state churches.
    d. An Anglican diocesan court presided over by a bishop's chancellor or commissary.
  2. The meeting of a consistory.
  3. A council; a tribunal.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English consistorie

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin cōnsistōrium, place of assembly

Origin: , from cōnsistere, to stand together; see consist

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Related Forms:

  • conˌsis·toˈri·al (kŏnˌsĭ-stôrˈē-əl, -stōrˈ-) adjective

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