v. [f. L. episcop-us bishop + -IZE.]
1. trans. To make or consecrate (a person) a bishop. Also absol.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xxvii. (1739), 127. The course of Episcopizing continued the same as formerly it had been.
1820. Southey, Wesley, II. 407. There seems reason to believe that Wesley was willing to have been episcopized upon this occasion.
1832. J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXXI. 286. The very first act of the Devil’s own reign Would episcopize Cobbett, and canonize Paine.
2. To rule as a bishop. Also To episcopize it.
1679. Prance, Addit. Narr. Pop. Plot, 46. Sent over into England by the Pope to Episcopize it over all English Catholicks.
a. 1745. W. Broome, Poems, Death J. Shute (R.). By whom he ’s prelated above the skies, And then the whole world ’s his t’ episcopise.
b. intr. To assume the character of a bishop.
1820. Southey, Wesley, II. 310. An inclination to episcopize was evidently shown in this language.
3. To bring under episcopal government; also, to render episcopalian.
1767. Chauncy, Lett. (1768), 37. Their main view was to episcopise the Colonies.
1769. Public Advertiser, 3 June, 4/1. Mr. Apthorpe’s Scheme or episcopizing America.
1868. A. K. H. Boyd, Lessons Mid. Age, 176. Not … free to use any active means for episcopising the Church of Scotland.
Hence Episcopizing vbl. sb.; also attrib.
1768. W. Livingston, Let. Bp. Llandaff, 19. The episcopising of dissenters.
1768. in Chauncy, Lett., 45. The episcopising plan is of a very interesting nature.
1840. Tait’s Mag., VII. 71. The mission of the apostles was not an episcopizing of geographical dioceses.
1881. Blackie, Lay Serm., viii. 247. His father’s episcopising schemes and theories.
