consistory
any of various ecclesiastical councils or tribunals.
the place where such a council or tribunal meets.
the meeting of any such body.
Roman Catholic Church. a solemn assembly of the whole body of cardinals, summoned and presided over by the pope.
Anglican Church. a diocesan court for dealing with ecclesiastical and spiritual questions, held in the cathedral church and presided over by the bishop, the bishop's chancellor, or the commissary.
(in certain Reformed churches) the governing board of a local church or congregation.
any assembly or council.
Obsolete. a council chamber.
Origin of consistory
1Other words from consistory
- con·sis·to·ri·al [kon-si-stawr-ee-uhl, -stohr-], /ˌkɒn sɪˈstɔr i əl, -ˈstoʊr-/, con·sis·to·ri·an, adjective
- non·con·sis·to·ri·al, adjective
Words Nearby consistory
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use consistory in a sentence
But at a consistory of cardinals in Vatican City on Monday, Francis made his case.
He created in the consistory a Calvinistic inquisition, absolutely similar to the revolutionary tribunal of Robespierre.
Catherine de' Medici | Honore de BalzacThis end of the transept was till quite recently railed off, and used as the consistory court of the Chancellor of Carlisle.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle | C. King EleyOn January 2, 1821, the property was finally deeded to the consistory.
The Kirk on Rutgers Farm | Frederick BrckbauerIn 1843, on the land back of the church the "consistory Building" was erected.
The Kirk on Rutgers Farm | Frederick Brckbauer
But the consistory could not itself inflict punishment; that was the province of the civil government.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume VI | John Lord
British Dictionary definitions for consistory
/ (kənˈsɪstərɪ) /
Church of England
the court of a diocese (other than Canterbury) administering ecclesiastical law
the area in a church where the consistory meets
RC Church an assembly of the cardinals and the pope
(in certain Reformed Churches) the governing body of a local congregation or church
archaic a council or assembly
Origin of consistory
1Derived forms of consistory
- consistorial (ˌkɒnsɪˈstɔːrɪəl) or consistorian, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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