Also formerly -rice, -riche, -rich, -rick, -rik. [OE. bisceopríce, f. bisceop + ríce realm, province. Cf. ON. biskups-ríki.]

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  1.  The province of a bishop; a diocese.

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c. 890.  K. Ælfred, Bæda, II. vii. (Bosw.). Mellitus feng to ðam bisceoprice.

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c. 1150.  Gloss., in Wright, Voc., 87. Diocesis uel parochia, biscopriche.

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1297.  R. Glouc., 417. Þe byssopryche of Salesbury.

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1533–4.  Act 25 Hen. VIII., xx. Archebishopriches and bishopriches.

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1777.  Watson, Philip II. (1839), 107. The regular clergy still continued to complain as loudly as ever of the new erection of bishoprics.

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  2.  The office or position of a bishop.

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1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 360. Þey biȝȝeþ hem bichopryches · wiþ bagges of golde.

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1565.  Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 106. To him Bishopricke was first giuen in the Church of Christ.

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1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 89, ¶ 6. A Virtuous Woman should reject the first Offer of Marriage, as a good Man does that of a Bishoprick.

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1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 271. I know well enough that the bishopricks … are sometimes acquired by unworthy methods.

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1851.  Kingsley, Yeast, xiv. 276. They promised him something—some prince-bishopric, perhaps.

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  † 3.  Overseership, office. (for Gr. ἐρισκοπή.) Obs.

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 18892. Anoþer most haf his biscop-rike.

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1382.  Wyclif, Acts i. 20. Another take the bisshopryche of him.

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1535.  Coverdale, ibid. His biszhoprike another take. 1611 ibid. His Bishopricke [marg. office: or, charge] let another take. [1881 Revised ibid., His office [marg. Gr. overseership] let another take.]

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1592.  Bp. Andrewes, 96 Serm., v. (1843), 515. He may see Ananias … buying his bishopric for money.

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  † 4.  High-priesthood: see BISHOP 2. Obs.

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1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., I. (1520), 6 b/1. Heleazar succeded in the bysshopryche.

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  † 5.  The seat or residence of a bishop. Obs.

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1623.  Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. T., 35. He entertained him … at ye bishopricke.

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