prelature

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

prelature
    n 1: prelates collectively [syn: {prelacy}, {prelature}]
    2: the office or station of a prelate [syn: {prelacy},
       {prelature}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Prelature \Prel"a*ture\ (?; 135), Prelatureship
\Prel"a*ture*ship\, n. [F. pr['e]lature, or LL. praelatura.]
   The state or dignity of a prelate; prelacy. --Milman.
   [1913 Webster]