Bishop is a two-syllable noun referring to a clergy member of high rank in Christian churches, or, in chess, a piece that moves diagonally. It can also denote an episcopal bishopric or a bishop in various religious organizations. The word carries formal and historical connotations, and is common in both religious and academic contexts.
"The bishop delivered the sermon and offered guidance to the congregation."
"In chess, the bishop slides diagonally across the board."
"She wore a clerical collar and played the role of a bishop in the liturgical drama."
"The university hosts a symposium with a guest speaker who is a bishop from the diocese."
The word bishop comes from Old English bishop, which itself derives from the Late Latin episcopus, from the Greek episkopos meaning overseer, from epi- “over” + skopos “watcher.” The term entered English via Latin during the Christianization of Britain, originally denoting an overseer of a local Christian community, then extended to become a formal title in church hierarchy by the 9th–11th centuries. In the medieval period, bishops were not only religious leaders but often political actors with landholding power, which reinforced the word’s resonance in religious, legal, and cultural language. The chess sense appears from the 15th century, borrowed from the same ecclesiastical figure due to the bishop’s diagonal movement’s connotation of sweeping influence across the board. The semantic expansion to “bishopric” (the diocese administered by a bishop) solidified in English by the late medieval era and remains a primary sense today. This evolution reflects broader shifts in church organization, education, and governance that the term has tracked for centuries. In modern usage, bishop retains its formal, ceremonial, and historical aura in religious contexts, while in chess it denotes a key piece with distinct movement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Bishop" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Bishop"
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/ˈbɪʃəp/ with two syllables: BI-shup. Stress on the first syllable. The middle vowel is a reduced schwa /ə/; the ending is a voiceless aspirated /p/. Keep the lips rounded just slightly for the /ɪ/ and return to a neutral /ə/ before the final /p/. Audio guidance: listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo, then mimic the crisp final /p/.
Common errors include: 1) Slurring the /ɪ/ into a short /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ by over-weakening the first vowel; 2) Replacing the final /p/ with a /b/ or not releasing the plosive; 3) Misplacing the stress as BI-shəp vs bi-SHOP; Correction: clearly stress the first syllable /ˈbɪʃəp/, keep the /ɪ/ as a short, lax vowel, and release the /p/ with a small puff of air.
US/UK/AU share /ˈbɪʃəp/ in broad terms, but rhotic effects differ: US typically rhymes less with postvocalic R here (no R involved anyway). UK accents may have slightly sharper /ɪ/ and a lighter /ə/; AU often features a more centralized /ə/. In all, the /ˈbɪʃəp/ structure remains; the main variation is vowel quality and length, and subtle intonation. Listen to regional sources to capture the variation.
The difficulty lies in landing the mid-central /ə/ between two consonants and ensuring a crisp final /p/. Many speakers blur the /ɪ/ or move into a vowel cluster that isn’t present. It’s also easy to turn the final /p/ into a /b/ or to release too softly, making it sound like /ˈbɪʃə/ or /ˈbɪʃəp/ with insufficient plosive release. Focus on the two distinct syllables and a clean stop at the end.
In formal contexts, you’ll maintain clear enunciation and avoid oversinging the word. The /ˈbɪʃəp/ should be precise, with the first syllable carrying primary stress and the middle vowel reduced; in chant or ritual speech the tempo may be slower, but the articulation remains crisp to convey authority and tradition.
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