Suffragan

views updated May 29 2018

Suffragan. A Christian bishop, who gives his suffrage (help). It may be any bishop, subordinate to his metropolitan or archbishop. In the Church of England, it is a bishop appointed as an assistant to the bishop of a diocese.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions JOHN BOWKER

suffragan

views updated Jun 27 2018

suffragan bishop considered in relation to his metropolitan, by whom he may be summoned to give his suffrage; subsidiary bishop in the Church of England. — AN., OF, suffragan, medL. suffragāneus, f. L. suffragium SUFFRAGE; see -AN.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

suffragan

views updated Jun 27 2018

suffragan an assistant or subsidiary bishop peforming episcopal functions in a certain diocese but having no jurisdiction; in the Church of England, a bishop appointed to help a diocesan bishop. The word is recorded from late Middle English, and comes ultimately from medieval Latin suffraganeus ‘assistant bishop’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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