[f. EPISCOPAL + -ITY.] In various nonce-uses: † a. That which constitutes episcopacy. † b. The office or dignity of a bishop. c. The quality appropriate to a bishop; a bishop-like bearing.
c. 1618. E. Bolton, Hypercritica, ii. § 3. Enemies of Ecclesiastical Episcopality.
1636. Prynne, Unbish. Tim., 158. Those Lordly Pontificians … will needs claime all their Episcopalities by a divine right.
1647. 16 New Quaeres to Praelates, Ded. 2. These Quaeres will proove fatall to your Popedomes, Episcopalities [etc.].
1885. Oxenham, Stud. Eth. & Relig., 16. There is a sort of episcopality about them—if one may be permitted to coin the word.
