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papacy definition

pa·pacy (pā′pə sē)

noun pl. papacies -·cies

    1. the rank of pope; papal office
    2. the term of office of one or more popes
    3. the whole succession of popes
  2. the governing of the Roman Catholic Church by the Roman pontiff, its head

Etymology: ME papacie < ML(Ec) papatia < LL(Ec) papa, bishop, pope

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