[prel-it] 
| an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.; a church dignitary. |
| prel·ate (prěl'ĭt) n. A high-ranking member of the clergy, especially a bishop. [Middle English prelat, from Old French, from Medieval Latin praelātus, from Latin, past participle of praeferre, to carry before, to prefer : prae-, pre- + lātus, brought; see telə- in Indo-European roots.] pre·lat'ic (prĭ-lāt'ĭk) adj. |
prelate
an ecclesiastical dignitary of high rank. In the modern Roman Catholic church, prelates are those who exercise the public power of the church. True prelacy is defined as "preeminence with jurisdiction," and true, or real, prelates are distinguished as (1) greater prelates, those who possess episcopal jurisdiction (such as patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops), and (2) lesser prelates, those who possess a quasi-episcopal or other jurisdiction (such as abbots and prelates "of no diocese" and religious superiors, withdrawn from the ordinary diocesan jurisdiction).
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