papacy

pa·pa·cy

noun \ˈpā-pə-sē\

plural pa·pa·cies

Definition of PAPACY

1

: the office of pope

2

: a succession or line of popes

3

: the term of a pope's reign

4

capitalized : the system of government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the pope is the supreme head

Examples of PAPACY

1. He was selected by the cardinals for the papacy.

Origin of PAPACY

Middle English papacie, from Medieval Latin papatia, from Late Latin papa pope — more at pope

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary