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ual course of events; as, an improbable story or event. He . . . sent to Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover. Milton. -- Im*prob"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prob"a*bly, adv.

e; the full possession and exercise of any office. These fines are only to be paid to the bishop during his incumbency. Swift.

f a war." Bacon. Secular princes did use to indict, or permit the indiction of, synods of bishops. Jer. Taylor.

or bring forth, as a child; hence, to produce, in general. [Obs.] This worthy motto, "No bishop, no king," is . . . infanted out of the same fears. Milton.

Inquisitorial. [Obs.] "Our inquisiturient bishops." Milton.

eremonies; as, the installation of an ordained minister in a parish. On the election, the bishop gives a mandate for his installation. Ayliffe.

A presbyter appointed by the bishop to institute a rector or assistant minister over a parish church.

A bishop, who, during a vacancy of the see, administers the bishopric till a successor is installed.

ff from the enjoyment of religious privileges, as a city, a church, an individual. An archbishop may not only excommunicate and interdict his suffragans, but his vicar general may do the same. Ayliffe.

lso, the right of so investing. He had refused to yield up to the pope the investiture of bishops. Sir W. Raleigh.

A hint; an innuendo. [Obs.] A secret item was given to some of the bishops . . . to absent themselves. Fuller.

A follower of Cornelius Jansen, a Roman Catholic bishop of Ypres, in Flanders, in the 17th century, who taught certain doctrines denying free will and the possibility of resisting divine grace.

tense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage. And judges job, and bishops bite the town. Pope.

on. Milton. You wrought to be a legate; by which power You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops. Shak.

To become ineffectual or void; to fall. If the archbishop shall not fill it up within six months ensuing, it lapses to the king. Ayliffe.

not long ago, but not now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.

or sometimes cotton) fabric with a rather open texture. Lawn is used for the sleeves of a bishop's official dress in the English Church, and, figuratively, stands for the office itself. A saint in crape is twice in lawn. Pope.

nt. Burrill. -- Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. -- Letters patent, overt, or open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do…

To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light. His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. Landor. To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire.

t prejudice. -- To look black, to frown; to scowl; to have a threatening appearance. The bishops thereat repined, and looked black. Holinshed. -- To look down on or upon, to treat with indifference or contempt; to regard as an inferior; to despise. -- To look for. (a) To expect; as, to look for news by the arrival of…