episcopate

From Late Latin episcopatus, from Latin episcopus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “watching over”).

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈpɪskəpət/

episcopate (plural episcopates)

1. Bishops seen as a group.

   The American Roman Catholic episcopate regularly meets together.

2. The tenure in office of a bishop.

   Bishop Smith's episcopate ran for more than 30 years.

3. (rare) A bishop's jurisdiction, the extent of his diocese.

• bishopdom, bishophood, bishopric

episcopate (third-person singular simple present episcopates, present participle episcopating, simple past and past participle episcopated)

1. (intransitive) To act as a bishop.