What does prelatic mean?
Prelatic means connected with a prelate, particularly a bishop or another senior member of the clergy. The adjective may describe a prelate’s status, powers, authority, or institutional role, as in references to prelatic authority or prelatic jurisdiction. It is uncommon in ordinary modern English and occurs mainly in historical, theological, legal, and academic writing. Although related in meaning to clerical and episcopal, prelatic is more narrowly associated with the office or position of a prelate. The word is also useful when discussing the organization and authority of Christian churches, especially in historical contexts where bishops and archbishops exercised considerable administrative and judicial power. Its unusual form is now largely encountered in specialized scholarship.
adjectiveOf or relating to a prelate, especially a bishop or other senior cleric.
- Of or relating to a prelate, especially a bishop or other senior cleric.
"The manuscript reflects the prelatic authority of the bishop during the dispute."
"The chapter challenged the prelatic authority exercised by the bishop."
"Her research focuses on prelatic structures in the medieval English church."
Pre-lates were originally those who had been preferred or placed in authority; the word later came to denote senior church officials.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prelatic come from?
The word was formed in English from prelate and the adjectival suffix -ic. Its ultimate source is Latin praelatus, the past participle of praeferre, meaning “to prefer” or “place in preference,” a term that came to be used for an ecclesiastical superior. The Latin adjective praelaticus also contributed to the formation of English words concerned with prelates and prelacy.
How prelatic is actually used
This is a rare, chiefly scholarly or historical word. It is more specific than clerical and generally implies a bishop or another prelate.
Easily confused with prelatic
A prelate is a senior member of the clergy, whereas prelatic is an adjective describing something connected with such a person or office.