a. [ad. med.L. consistōriāl-is, f. consistōri-um: see -AL. So F. consistorial.] Of or pertaining to a consistory.
1. Of or pertaining to a bishop’s consistory.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 225. The crovss Capone, a clerk vnder cleir weidis … Was officiale … In caussis consistoriale.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 249. [He] practiced the Civil Law in … the Court of Arches … Prerogative, and Consistoral of the Bishop of London.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 163. An Official or Chancellor, has the same Consistorial Audience with the Bishop himself that deputes him.
1805. East, Reports, V. 343. The consistorial court of the archdeaconry of Wells.
1877. Encycl. Brit., VI. 292/2. The consistorial courts of the bishops of the Church of England are now but ‘the shadows of great names.’
b. In Scotland, ‘applied to the commissary-court, lately abolished, which came in place of the bishops’ court’ (W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 1861).
2. Of or pertaining to church government by consistories; Genevan, presbyterian.
1561. Reg. St. Andrews Kirk Sess. (1889), I. 104. The consistoriall howse.
1593. Abp. Bancroft, Dang. Positions, IV. iii. 140. Here you haue Allobrogicall and Consistoriall stuffe.
1675. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, ii. § 14. 59. Profane Malignants … accuse the Holy Consistorial and Presbyterian Government.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1640/4. We shall … be ever ready to maintain Your Majesties undoubted Supremacy against all Papal, Consistorial, or Democratical pretentions.
1816. Keatinge, Trav., II. 220. The protestants … have now … a consistorial church for every six thousand souls. Five such churches complete the circuit of a synod.
1889. A. H. Drysdale, Hist. Presbyt. Eng., 413. The consistorial or presbyterian form of polity.
3. Of or pertaining to the Papal Consistory.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4303/1. The Pope has appointed a Consistorial Congregation to meet the 27th Instant.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 25. The Pope … gave orders to Aldobrandin, the consistorial advocate, to finish the process … against Philip.
1877. Encycl. Brit., VI. 292/2. His Holiness nominates in secret consistory to all consistorial benefices.
Hence Consistorially adv., in consistory.
1624. Gataker, Transubst., 110. Consistorially to censure and to determine truth in matter of faith.
1752. Carte, Hist. Eng., III. 89. That he might … send publickly for a legate to determine the cause consistorially.
