Definition of "bishop" in Anglais

noun

1. (Christianity) An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.

2. (obsolete) The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc.

3. (obsolete) Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker.

4. A chief of the Festival of Fools or St. Nicholas Day.

5. (chess) The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.

   • The Bishoppes some name Alphins, some fooles, and some name them Princes; other some call them Archers.

6. Any of various African birds of the genus Euplectes; a kind of weaverbird closely related to the widowbirds.

7. (dialectal) A ladybug or ladybird, beetles of the family Coccinellidae.

8. A flowering plant of the genus Bifora.

9. A sweet drink made from wine, usually with oranges, lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port.

   • Well roasted, with Sugar and Wine in a Cup, They'll make a sweet Bishop.
   • A bowl of that liquor called Bishop, which Johnson had always liked.

10. (US, archaic) A bustle.

11. (UK, dialectal, archaic) A children's smock or pinafore.

    • Here; tak him, an wesh him; an' put him a clen bishop on.

verb

1. (Christianity) To act as a bishop, to perform the duties of a bishop, especially to confirm another's membership in the church.

   • Se bisceop biþ gesett... to bisceopgenne cild.

2. (Christianity) To make a bishop.

   • 1549, H. Latimer, 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie, 5th Serm. sig. Pviv Thys hathe bene often tymes... sene in preachers before they were byshoppyd or benificed.
   • There may be other... matters to occupy the thoughts of one about to be bishopped.

3. (Christianity, rare) To provide with bishops.

   • Italy would be well bishoped if her episcopacy... did not exceed fifty-nine.

4. (UK, dialectal) To permit food (especially milk) to burn while cooking (from bishops' role in the inquisition or as mentioned in the quotation below, of horses).

   • If the porage be burned to, or the meate ouer rosted, we say the bishop hath put his foote in the potte or the bishop hath played the cooke, because the bishops burn who they lust and whosoever displeaseth them.