bishopric
(ˈbɪʃəprɪk)
Also formerly -rice, -riche, -rich, -rick, -rik.
[OE. bisceopr{iacu}ce, f. bisceop + r{iacu}ce realm, province. Cf. ON. biskups-r{iacu}ki.]
1. The province of a bishop; a diocese.
| c 890 K. ælfred Bæda ii. vii. (Bosw.) Mellitus feng to ðam bisceoprice. c 1150 Gloss. in Wright Voc. 87 Diocesis uel parochia, biscopriche. 1297 R. Glouc. 417 Þe byssopryche of Salesbury. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, xx, Archebishopriches and bishopriches. 1777 Watson Philip II, (1839) 107 The regular clergy still continued to complain as loudly as ever of the new erection of bishoprics. |
2. The office or position of a bishop.
| 1394 P. Pl. Crede 360 Þey biȝȝeþ hem bichopryches · wiþ bagges of golde. 1565 Jewel Repl. Harding (1611) 166 To him Bishopricke was first giuen in the Church of Christ. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 89 §7 A vertuous woman should reject the first offer of marriage as a good man does that of a bishoprick. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 271, I know well enough that the bishopricks..are sometimes acquired by unworthy methods. 1851 Kingsley Yeast xiv. 276 They promised him something—some prince-bishopric, perhaps. |
† 3. Overseership, office. (for Gr. ἐπισκοπή.) Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 18892 Anoþer most haf his biscop-rike. 1382 Wyclif Acts i. 20 Another take the bisshopryche of him. 1535 Coverdale ibid., His biszhoprike another take. 1611 ibid., His Bishopricke [marg. office: or, charge] let another take. [1881 Revised ibid., His office [marg. Gr. overseership] let another take.] 1592 Bp. Andrewes 96 Serm. v. (1843) 515 He may see Ananias..buying his bishopric for money. |
† 4. High-priesthood: see bishop 2. Obs.
| 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. i. (1520) 6 b/1 Heleazar succeded in the bysshopryche. |
† 5. The seat or residence of a bishop. Obs.
| 1623 Lisle ælfric on O. & N.T. 35 He entertained him..at y⊇ bishopricke. |