[ad. Gr. ἐπισκοπία oversight, f. ἐπίσκοπος overseer, BISHOP.]

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  † 1.  Survey: superintendence. Obs. rare.

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1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. (1851), 158. The censor in his morall episcopy.

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  † 2.  Government of the church by bishops. Obs.

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1660.  Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., I. iv. § 9. It was the universal doctrine of the Church of God for many ages … that episcopy is the divine, or apostolical institution.

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  3.  concr. The body or bench of bishops. rare.

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1874.  Dixon, Two Queens, III. XVIII. iii. 337. A view supported by the English episcopy.

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