archiepiscopacy
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From archi- + episcopacy.
Noun
[edit]archiepiscopacy (plural archiepiscopacies)
- (ecclesiastical) The form of episcopacy in which the chief power is in the hands of archbishops.
- (ecclesiastical) The position or dignity of an archbishop.
- Synonym: archbishopric
- 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 54”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 292:
- ‘Though there are no Auto-da-Fés in Lima now,’ said one of the company to another; ‘I fear our sailor friend runs risk of the archiepiscopacy. Let us withdraw more out of the moonlight. […] ’