prelate

name

1. A village in Saskatchewan, Canada.

noun

Etymology: From Old French prelat (French prélat), from Medieval Latin praelātus, perfect passive participle of praeferō (“to carry before, prefer, exceed”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of prefer. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

1. A clergyman of high rank and authority, having jurisdiction over an area or a group of people; normally a bishop.

   “Hear him but reason in divinity, […] / You would desire the king were made a prelate.”

   “’Tis acknowledg’d on all hands, ſays that learned Prelate, that the Authority, either of the Scripture or of Tradition, is founded merely on the Teſtimony of the Apoſtles, who were Eye-witneſſes to thoſe Miracles of our Saviour, by which he prov’d his divine Miſſion.”

verb

Etymology: From Old French prelat (French prélat), from Medieval Latin praelātus, perfect passive participle of praeferō (“to carry before, prefer, exceed”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of prefer. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

1. (obsolete) To act as a prelate.

   “18 January 1549, Hugh Latimer, Sermon of the Plough Right prelating is busy labouring, and not lording.”