Obs. rare–1. [ad. late L. chōrepiscopus, a. Gr. χωρεπίσκοπος country bishop, suffragan bishop, f. χώρα or χώρος country + ἐπίσκοπος BISHOP. The Latin form is now commonly used.] A country or suffragan bishop of the early church appointed to superintend churches at a distance from the city where the bishop of the diocese resided.
1660. J. Lloyd, Prim. Episc., 56. The Churches never suffered a Presbyter, or Chorepiscope, to ordaine.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. viii. § 4. The old Chorepiscopi.
1839. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., xi. (1847), 117. Where he had lived before as chorepiscopus.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. ii. 64. At a time when there were no fixed bishoprics in Wales … there were chorepiscopi in the neighbourhood.
1844. trans. Mosheim’s Eccl. Hist., I. 30. Chorepiscopi, i.e., country bishops. This order held the middle rank between bishops and presbyters.
