n. The district or churches under the jurisdiction of a bishop; a bishopric. [Middle English diocise, from Old French, from Late Latin diocēsis, from Latin dioecēsis, jurisdiction, from Greek dioikēsis, administration, from dioikein, to keep house, administer : dia-, intensive pref.; see DIA- + oikein, to inhabit (from oikos, house; see weik-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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