Con-sis’to-ry1, n.
(113) (Synop., § 130), n. [Lat. consistorium, from consistere; Fr. consistoire, Pr., Sp., & Pg. consistori, It. consistorio, consistoro. See CON-SIST.]
Sense 1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council.
To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.
Sense 2. (Eng. Church.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or any other convenient place. Hook.
Sense 3. (Rom. Cath. Church.) An assembly of prelates; the college of cardinals at Rome.
Pius was then hearing causes in consistory. Bacon.
Sense 4. A church tribunal.
In some churches, as the Dutch, a consistory is the lowest tribunal, corresponding to a church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery.