n. Abbr. Suff. or Suffr. 1. A bishop elected or appointed as an assistant to the bishop or ordinary of a diocese, having administrative and episcopal responsibilities but no jurisdictional functions. 2. A bishop regarded in position as subordinate to an archbishop or a metropolitan. adj. Of, being, or relating to a suffragan. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, voting, supporting, from Latin suffrāgium, support, right to vote, from suffrāgārī, to express support; see bhreg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] suffra·gan·ship′ n. |
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