Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Consistory
Con-sis′to-ry
(? or ?; 277)
Noun.
pl.
Consistories
(#)
. [L.
consistorium
a place of assembly, the place where the emperor’s council met, fr. consistere
: cf. F. consistoire
, It. consistorio
. See Consist
.] 1.
Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council.
To council summons all his mighty peers,
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy
consistory
. Milton.
2.
(Eng. Ch.)
The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere.
Hook.
3.
(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.
4.
A church tribunal or governing body.
☞ 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.
5.
A civil court of justice.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Con-sis′to-ry
,Adj.
Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory.
“To hold consistory session.” Strype.
Webster 1828 Edition
Consistory
CONSISTORY
,Noun.
1.
A place of justice in the spiritual court, or the court itself; the court of every diocesan bishop, held in their cathedral churches, for the trial of ecclesiastical causes, arising within the diocese. The bishops chancellor or his commissary is the judge.2.
An assembly of prelates; the college of cardinals at Rome.Pius was then hearing causes in consistory.
3.
A solemn assembly or council.4.
A place of residence. [Not used.]5.
In the Reformed churches, an assembly or council of ministers and elders.Definition 2024
consistory
consistory
English
Noun
consistory (plural consistories)
- Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council.
- Milton
- To council summons all his mighty peers, / Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, / A gloomy consistory.
- Milton
- The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Hook to this entry?)
- An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome.
- Francis Bacon
- Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory.
- Francis Bacon
- A church tribunal or governing body, especially of elders in a Reformed church.
- (obsolete) A civil court of justice.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)
References
- consistory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913