dimissory, a. (n.)
(ˈdɪmɪsərɪ)
Also 7 dimissary, 7–8 demissory.
[ad. L. dīmissōri-us (in litteræ dīmissōriæ a dimissory letter), f. dīmiss- ppl. stem of dīmittĕre to send away, dismiss: see -ory. (Also dismissory: cf. dis- prefix).]
† 1. Pertaining to dismission or leave-taking; dismissory; valedictory. Obs. in gen. sense. (In quot. 1650, fig. from 2.)
| 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 305 In witnes wherof I giue vnto thee this Bill of diuorcement and dimissorie Epistle, being an instrument of libertie according to y⊇ law of Moses. 1650 Bp. Prideaux Euchol. (1656) 101 (T.) Old Simeon's craving his letters demissory. a 1656 Ussher Ann. (1658) 431 The Original of that Petaroth or dimissary Lecture, after which the people were dismissed. |
2. Eccl. dimissory letter (usually in pl. letters dimissory): a. In the ancient church, a letter from a bishop dismissing a clergyman from one diocese and recommending him to another. b. A letter from a bishop, the superior of a religious order, etc., authorizing the bearer as a candidate for ordination.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 91 If he..haue letters dimissorie from one bishop to another. a 1631 Donne Ignat. Concl. (1635) 115 Accompany them with Certificates, and Demissory letters. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. iii. iii. (1673) 310 Letters Dimissory whereby Leave was given to persons going into another Diocese (if ordained) to be admitted and incorporated into the Clergy of that Church. 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. iii. i. (1743) 143 He must have Letters Demissory from the Bishop. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 128 A Bishop of another Diocess ought neither to ordain nor admit a Clerk..without letters Dimissory. 1818 C. Simeon Let. in Mem. xx. (1847) 497 Letters dimissory for a young man who has distinguished himself. 1819 Southey in Q. Rev. XXII. 73 The abbot was cautioned not to receive a member of any other known monastery without dimissory letters from his superior. |
† B. n. (pl.) = Letters dimissory: see prec. Obs.
| c 1380 Antecrist in Todd 3 Treat. Wyclif (1851) 147 Bi tytle and by dymyssories. 1619 Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent (1676) 462 In respect of the dimisories of Bishops. 1725 tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. I. v. ii. 69 The Dimissories were given to the Laity and Clergy, who went out of one Diocese..to live in another. |