Word Direct Answers

What does "consistory" mean?

Consistory: (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.
  2. 3.A church tribunal or governing body. Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.
  3. 4.A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  4. 5.Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype.

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