n. pl. con·sis·to·ries 1. a. Roman Catholic Church An assembly of cardinals presided over by the pope for the solemn promulgation of papal acts, such as the canonization of a saint. b. A governing body of a local congregation in certain Reformed churches. c. A court appointed to regulate ecclesiastical affairs in Lutheran state churches. d. An Anglican diocesan court presided over by a bishop's chancellor or commissary. 2. The meeting of a consistory. 3. A council; a tribunal. [Middle English consistorie, from Old French, from Latin cōnsistōrium, place of assembly, from cōnsistere, to stand together; see CONSIST.] con′sis·tori·al (kŏn′sĭ-stôrē-əl) adj. |
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