1. episcopal(a = adj.pert) episcopalian - of or pertaining to or characteristic of the Episcopal church; "the Episcopal hierarchy"; "married by an Episcopalian minister"
2. episcopal(a = adj.pert) pontifical - denoting or governed by or relating to a bishop or bishops;
Derived form noun bishop1
1. Governed by bishops; as, an episcopal church. [1913 Webster]
2. Belonging to, or vested in, bishops; as, episcopal jurisdiction or authority; the episcopal system. [1913 Webster]
episcopal, adj.
1 of a bishop or bishops.
2 (of a Church) constituted on the principle of government by bishops.
Idiom:
Episcopal Church the Anglican Church in Scotland and the US, with elected bishops.
Derivative:
episcopalism n. episcopally adv.
Etymology:
ME f. F {eacute}piscopal or eccl.L episcopalis f. episcopus BISHOP
N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.
episcopal church, episcopal church of scotland, protestant episcopal church