prelacy, prelasie

[Low Lat. prælati a, from Lat. prælat us =a prelate (q. v.).] 1. The office, dignity, or position of a prelate. "Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices."Ayliffe: Parergon. *2. Prelates or bishops collectively. "Bishops, abbots, and others of the prelasie."- Fox: Martyrs, p. 241. *3. Episcopacy; the system of church government by prelates. (Formerly applied to the forms and practices of the High Church party.) *pre-lal, a . [Lat. prælum a pre .) Pertain. ing to printing; typographical; as, prelal faults. ( Fuller .)