Main Entry: con·sis·to·ry

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈsis-t(ə-)rē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural con·sis·to·ries

Etymology: Middle English consistorie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin & Late Latin; Medieval Latin consistorium church tribunal, from Late Latin, imperial council, from Latin consistere

Date: 14th century

1 : a solemn assembly : council
2 : a church tribunal or governing body: as a : a solemn meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals convoked and presided over by the pope b : a church session in some Reformed churches
3 : the organization that confers the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry usually from the 19th to the 32d inclusive; also : a meeting of such an organization

— con·sis·tor·i·al \ˌkän-si-ˈstōr-ē-əl, -ˈstȯr-\ adjective