episcopy

episcopy means supervision; superintendence.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐπισκοπή (episkopḗ), from ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “overseer, bishop”). See bishop. First attested in 1642 in John Milton’s The Reason of Church-Government Urged against Prelaty.

noun

Supervision; superintendence.e.g.“There are most weighty reasons why the Church ought to lay aside episcopacy, and return to the apostolical institution of presbyters” — 1692, John Milton, translated by [Joseph Washington], A Defence of the People of England, […]: In Answer to Salmasius’s Defence of the King, [London?]: [s.n.], →OCLC:
Episcopacy.e.g.“It was the universal doctrine of the Church of God for many ages , even for fourteen Centuries of years , that Episcopy is […]Divine […]” — 1660, Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience in All Her General Measures; […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] James Flesher, for Richard Royston […], →OCLC:

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).