/duy"euh sis, -seez', -sees'/ , n.
an ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
[ 1300-50; ME diocise, diocese diocesis, var. of LL, L dioecesis, dioíkesis housekeeping, administration, province, diocese, equiv. to dioike-, var. s. of dioikeîn to keep house, administer, govern ( di- DI- 3 + oikeîn to dwell, occupy, manage, deriv. of oîkos house) + -sis -SIS ]