bishoply means like, relating to, or characteristic of a bishop. It carries an Arena rating of 1416, earned across 13 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, bishoply ranks #7,429 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #8,365 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #8,671 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #10,314 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words.
Why “bishoply” is a great word
Relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a bishop in personal character or manner. From Middle English *bisshoply*, from Old English *biscoplīc* ("episcopal"), equivalent to *bishop* + *-ly*. Unlike "episcopal," which denotes official authority and church governance, or "pontifical," which pertains to ceremonial grandeur and formal pomp, *bishoply* attends to the man rather than the office. It is the quiet pressure of a pastoral hand on a shoulder, the deliberate enunciation of a benediction, and the scent of old beeswax and stone lingering on a well-worn cassock—the modest but palpable gravity of a soul entrusted with care.
Etymology
From Middle English bisshoply, from Old English biscoplīc (“episcopal”) equivalent to bishop + -ly.
adj
- Like, relating to, or characteristic of a bishope.g.“bishoply power”
adv
- In the manner of a bishop.e.g.“And such, for the most part, live naughtily, carnally, fleshly, viciously, pompously, worldly, and not bishoply nor priestly. For they came not in by God, nor by grace.” — 1838 [????], John Foxe, The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe: With a Preliminary Dissertation by the Rev. George Townsend, page 177:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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