consistory

pos>n.; pl. Consistories [ L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist. ] 1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. [ 1913 Webster ]

To council summons all his mighty peers,
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy consistory. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A church tribunal or governing body. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A civil court of justice. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]