priorate

From Medieval Latin priōrātus. By surface analysis, prior +‎ -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, the concrete charge of it). Compare French priorat.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹaɪəɹət/

priorate (plural priorates)

1. The dignity, office, or government of a prior.

   Synonyms: prioracy, priorship

   Coordinate terms: abbacy, curacy

   • 1774-1781, Thomas Warton, History of English Poetry:

     bishop there during Godfrey's priorate

• “priorate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• Pretoria