Di'o-cēse, n.

n. [Gr. διοίκησις, housekeeping, administration, a province, jurisdiction, from διοικεῖν, to keep house, manage, from δι', for διά, through, and οἰκεῖν, to manage a household, from οἶκος, a house; Fr. diocèse, Pr. diocèzi, diocèsa, Pg. diocese, It. & Sp. diocesi. This word is often spelt diocess; but this orthography is opposed to the derivation, and is not sanctioned by the best English authority.] (Eccles.) The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority.