bishop

¹

[ bish-uhp ]

noun

1. a person who supervises a number of local churches or a diocese, being in the Greek, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other churches a member of the highest order of the ministry.
2. a spiritual supervisor, overseer, or the like.
3. Chess. one of two pieces of the same color that may be moved any unobstructed distance diagonally, one on white squares and the other on black.
4. a hot drink made of port wine, oranges, cloves, etc.
5. Also called bishop bird. any of several colorful African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, often kept as pets.

verb (used with object)

, bish·oped, bish·op·ing.

1. to appoint to the office of bishop.

Bishop

²

[ bish-uhp ]

noun

1. Elizabeth, 1911–79, U.S. poet.
2. Hazel Gladys, 1906–1998, U.S. chemist and businesswoman.
3. John Peale, 1892–1944, U.S. poet and essayist.
4. Morris (Gilbert), 1893–1973, U.S. humorist, poet, and biographer.
5. William Avery Billy, 1894–1956, Canadian aviator: helped to establish Canadian air force.

bishop

¹

/ ˈbɪʃəp /

noun

1. (in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Greek Orthodox Churches) a clergyman having spiritual and administrative powers over a diocese or province of the Church See also suffragan episcopal
2. (in some Protestant Churches) a spiritual overseer of a local church or a number of churches
3. a chesspiece, capable of moving diagonally over any number of unoccupied squares of the same colour
4. mulled wine, usually port, spiced with oranges, cloves, etc

Bishop

²

/ ˈbɪʃəp /

noun

1. BishopElizabeth19111979FUSWRITING: poet Elizabeth . 1911–79, US poet, who lived in Brazil. Her poetry reflects her travelling experience, esp in the tropics

Bishop

/ bĭsh′əp /

1. American molecular biologist who, working with Harold Varmus, discovered oncogenes. For this work, Bishop and Varmus shared the 1989 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine.

bishop

1. In some Christian churches , a person appointed to oversee a group of priests or ministers and their congregations. In the Anglican Communion , the Eastern Orthodox Church , and the Roman Catholic Church , bishops are considered the successors of the Twelve Apostles .

Other Words From

• bish·op·less adjective
• bish·op·like adjective
• un·der·bish·op noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bishop¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English bisc ( e ) op < Vulgar Latin *ebiscopus, for Late Latin episcopus < Greek epískopos overseer, equivalent to epi- epi- + skopós watcher; scope

Word History and Origins

Origin of bishop¹

Old English biscop , from Late Latin epīscopus , from Greek episkopos , from epi- + skopos watcher

Example Sentences

“Some people just have that incredible ability to make their bodies learn how to do athletic things,” said Clark, now an assistant at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla.

From Los Angeles Times

Maiava recalls one particular game against national power Bishop Gorman during his freshman year at Sierra Vista High as the moment it dawned on him that he could hang at quarterback.

From Los Angeles Times

“The bishop is telling me to stop,” he said in the second video, “And I told him, ‘I’m not going to stop.’

From Los Angeles Times

An independent review published last week found Mr Welby - the most senior bishop within the Church of England - and other church officers should have formally reported Smyth in 2013 to police in the UK and authorities in South Africa.

From BBC

The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mountstephen, told BBC's Newsnight failures in safeguarding should be investigated and "appropriate and proportionate action should be taken with anyone who has failed in safeguarding terms".

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• cleric
• director
• patriarch
• pontiff
• pope
• prelate
• priest