-pə̇]t, -ˌpā], usually ]d.+V\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin episcopatus, from episcopus + Latin -atus -ate
1.
a. : the office of a bishop
he held the episcopate for 10 years
b. : the institution of episcopacy
the abortive effort to introduce the episcopate in the colonies — M.H.Shepherd
2. : diocese
in administrative matters the episcopate is an autonomous organization — F.S.Mead
3. : the body of bishops (as in a country)
the episcopate and the nobility
4. : the period of a bishop's office
he spent almost all his episcopate in journeys through his province — S.V.Troitsky