\Con*sis"to*ry\ (? or ?; 277) n.; pl. {Consistories}.
[L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the
emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire,
It. consistorio. See {Consist}.]
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.
2. (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held
   before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral
   church or elsewhere. --Hook.
3. (R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the
   college of cardinals at Rome.
         Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory.
                                               --Bacon.
4. A church tribunal or governing body.
Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a
      consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an
      individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian
      church session, and in others, as the Reformed church
      in France, it is composed of ministers and elders,
      corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran
      countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers
      appointed by the sovereign to superintend
      ecclesiastical affairs.
5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

\Con*sis"to*ry\, a.
Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. ``To hold
consistory session.'' --Strype.