bishops

Noun

bishop (plural bishops)

1. An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.
   • King James of blessed memory said, no Bishop, no King: it was not he, but others that added, No Ceremony, no Bishop.1641, “Smectymnuus”, in Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr., §16. 208
   1. (nonstandard) A similar official or chief priest in another religion.
      • The Caliphaes of the Sarasins were kings and chiefe bishops in their religion.1586, Pierre de la Primaudaye, translated by Thomas Bowes, The French Academie, I. 633
2. (obsolete) The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc.
   • They gave away corn, not cash; and Cicero was made bishop, or overseer, of this public victualling.1808, The Monthly Magazine and British Register, 26 109
3. (obsolete) Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker.
   • There is no place we see privileged from temptations, no desert so solitary but the devil will seek it out; no pinnacle so high but the devil is a bishop over it, to visit and overlook it.a. 1627 (date written), Lancelot Andrewes, “Seven Sermons upon the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness. Sermon IV.”, in J[ohn] P[osthumous] W[ilson], editor, Ninety-six Sermons […], volume V...
4. A chief of the Festival of Fools or St. Nicholas Day.
5. The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.
   • The Bishoppes some name Alphins, some fooles, and some name them Princes; other some call them Archers.1562, Rowbotham in Archaeologia, XXIV. 203

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