bischop

Middle English

Alternative forms

• bisschop, bisshop, byschop, bishup, busshop, bushop, busschop, bysshop, bissop, biscop

Etymology

From Old English bisċop, from Latin episcopus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbiʃəp/

Noun

bischop (plural bischoppes)

1. bishop (clergy member that heads a diocese)
   • 1382, Wycliffe's Bible, Acts xx. 28

     Al the folk in which the Hooly Gost sette ȝou bischopis.

     [Compare Tindale oversears, Cranmer ouersears, Geneva Ouersears, Douay bishops, KJV ouerseers, ERV bishops with the marginal gloss or overseers.]

   • c. 1383 John Wyclif, Selected Works, III. 310

     Crist veriest bischop of alle.

2. A clergy member ranking a bishop or higher
3. A high priest or other ranking non-Christian religious official.
4. A spiritual leader.

Related terms

• bischophod
• byschopryke, bischopryche
• erchebischop

Descendants

• English: bishop (see there for further descendants)
• Scots: bishop

References

• “bishop (n.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-30.