— popeless , adj. — popelike , adj.
/pohp/ , n.
1. ( often cap. ) the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. (in the early Christian church) a bishop.
3. a person considered as having or assuming authority or a position similar to that of the Roman Catholic pope.
4. the title of the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria.
5. Eastern Ch.
a. the Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria.
b. (in certain churches) a parish priest.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE papa pápas bishop, priest, var. of PÁPPAS father; see PAPA ]