diocese

di·o·cese

noun \ˈdī-ə-səs, -ˌsēs, -ˌsēz\

: the area that is controlled by a bishop in a Christian church

plural di·o·ces·es\ˈdī-ə-sə-səz, -ˌsē-zəz, ÷ˈdī-ə-ˌsēz\

Full Definition of DIOCESE

:  the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop

— di·oc·e·san \dī-ˈä-sə-sən also ˈdī-ə-ˌsē-s^ən\ adjective

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Origin of DIOCESE

Middle English diocise, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin diocesis, alteration of dioecesis, from Latin, administrative division, from Greek dioikēsis administration, administrative division, from dioikein to keep house, govern, from dia- + oikein to dwell, manage, from oikos house — more at vicinity

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with DIOCESE

Ambonese, Androcles, Annamese, antifreeze, Assamese, Balinese, Bengalese, Bhutanese, Bolognese, Brooklynese, Cantonese, Cervantes, Ceylonese, Chersonese, Congolese, cottage cheese, expertise, Faeroese, federalese, fifth disease, Genovese, gourmandise, Hebrides, Heracles, Hercules, Hyades, ill at ease, in a breeze, Japanese, Javanese, Johnsonese, journalese, Kanarese, legalese, litotes, manganese, Milanese, Nepalese, Nipponese, overseas, Pekingese, Pericles, Pleiades, Portuguese, Pyrenees, shoot the breeze, Siamese, Sienese, Silures, Sinhalese, Socrates, Sophocles, Sporades, to one's knees