a person who supervises a number of local churches or a diocese, being in the Greek, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other churches a member of the highest order of the ministry.
2.
a spiritual supervisor, overseer, or the like.
3.
Chess. one of two pieces of the same color that may be moved any unobstructed distance diagonally, one on white squares and the other on black.
4.
a hot drink made of port wine, oranges, cloves, etc.
5.
Also called bishop bird.any of several colorful African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, often kept as pets.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to appoint to the office of bishop.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE bisc(e)op < VL *ebiscopus, for LL episcopus < Gk epískopos overseer, equiv. to epi-epi-+ skopós watcher; see scope]
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.
Abbr. BGames A usually miter-shaped chess piece that can move diagonally across any number of unoccupied spaces.
Mulled port spiced with oranges, sugar, and cloves.
[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; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
O.E. bisceop, from L.L. episcopus, from Gk. episkopos "watcher, overseer," a title for various government officials, later taken over in a Church sense, from epi- "over" + skopos "watcher," from skeptesthai "look at." Given a specific sense in the Church, but the word also was used in the N.T. as a descriptive title for elders, and continues as such in some non-hierarchical Christian sects. The chess piece (formerly archer, before that alfin) was so called from 1562. Bishopric is O.E. bisceoprice, from rice "realm."
a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
2.
port wine mulled with oranges and cloves
3.
(chess) a piece that can be moved diagonally over unoccupied squares of the same color
a Christian clergyman in charge of a group of churches, usually in a large city or area Example: the Bishop of Lincoln; He was made a bishop two years ago.
BishopAudio Help (bĭsh'əp) Pronunciation Key
American molecular biologist who, working with Harold Varmus, discovered oncogenes. For this work, Bishop and Varmus shared the 1989 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine.
Bishop Hill, IL (village, FIPS 6171) Location: 41.19965 N, 90.11724 W Population (1990): 131 (60 housing units) Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Bishop, GA (town, FIPS 8200) Location: 33.81624 N, 83.43642 W Population (1990): 158 (71 housing units) Area: 2.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 30621
Bishop, TX (city, FIPS 8392) Location: 27.58477 N, 97.79759 W Population (1990): 3337 (1286 housing units) Area: 6.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 78343
Bishop, CA (city, FIPS 6798) Location: 37.36770 N, 118.39680 W Population (1990): 3475 (1779 housing units) Area: 4.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Cecil-Bishop, PA (CDP, FIPS 11883) Location: 40.31644 N, 80.19101 W Population (1990): 2701 (974 housing units) Area: 6.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
West Bishop, CA (CDP, FIPS 84120) Location: 37.36107 N, 118.45413 W Population (1990): 2908 (1133 housing units) Area: 22.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Arch`bish"op\, n. [AS. arcebisceop, arcebiscop, L. archiepiscopus, fr. Gr. 'archiepi`skopos. See Bishop.] A chief bishop; a church dignitary of the first class (often called a metropolitan or primate) who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese.
Bish"op\, n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.]1. A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director. Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. --1 Pet. ii. 25. It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the church is called indifferently "bishop" ( ? ) and "elder" or "presbyter." --J. B. Lightfoot. 2. In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a diocese, bishopric, or see. Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C. Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. --Shipley. Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus. Bench of Bishops. See under Bench. 3. In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the highest church officers or superintendents. 4. A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a bishop's miter; -- formerly called archer. 5. A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar. --Swift. 6. An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.] If, by her bishop, or her "grace" alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known. --Saxe.
Bish"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to receive formally to favor.