consistory

Definitions

1. 1.(Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 4.A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. 5.Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "consistory" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is consistory.

• What is the spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook called?
• What is an assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon called?
• What is a civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer called?
• What is of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype called?