Bishop

bish′op, n. in the Western and Eastern Churches, and in the Anglican communion, a clergyman consecrated for the spiritual direction of a diocese, under an archbishop, and over the priests or presbyters and deacons: a spiritual overseer in the early Christian Church, whether of a local church or of a number of churches—the terms bishop [Gr. episcopos ] and presbyter [Gr. presbyteros ] are used interchangeably in the New Testament for the officers who direct the discipline and administer the affairs of a single congregation—the differentiation in function and dignity is, however, well marked by the end of the 2d century: one of the pieces or men in che , from the upper part being carved into the shape of a bishop's mitre (formerly the archer ): a wholesome hot drink compounded of red wine (claret, Burgundy, .) poured warm or cold upon ripe bitter oranges, sugared and spiced to taste.— v.t. ( jocularly ) to play the bishop, to confirm: to supply with bishops: to let milk or the like burn while cooking.— ns. Bish′ope , a she-bishop, a bishop's wife; Bish′opric , the office and jurisdiction of a bishop: a diocese—also Bish′opdom .— Bishop in part i bus (see Part i bus ). [A.S. biscop —L. episcopus —Gr. episcopos , an overseer— epi , upon, skop-ein , to view.]