English
in partibus infidelium
In partibus infidelium comes from Ecclesiastical Latin in partibus īnfidēlium.
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500in partibus īnfidēliumliterally ‘in the regions of the infidels’
- Englishtodayin partibus infidelium
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500in partibus īnfidēliumliterally ‘in the regions of the infidels’
- Englishtodayin partibus infidelium
The story
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin in partibus īnfidēlium (literally “in the regions of the infidels”), so named because such bishops were assigned sees corresponding to territories that had passed under the control of other religions, and so did not imply a duty of residence or diocesan responsibilities.
Every English word from Ecclesiastical Latin in partibus īnfidēlium
Today it means
adj Of a bishop or see: merely titular, without regular jurisdiction, and serving to assist some other bishop or to act as delegates of the pope where no hierarchy had yet been established.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ecclesiastical Latin in partibus īnfidēlium / in partibus infidelium