prelatize

From prelate +‎ -ize.

prelatize (third-person singular simple present prelatizes, present participle prelatizing, simple past and past participle prelatized)

1. (Christianity, intransitive) To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions.
   • 1641, John Milton, Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defence against Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, →OCLC, page 143:

     he indeed ſucceeded into an Epiſcopacy that began then to prelatize;

2. (Christianity, transitive) To bring under the influence of prelacy.
   • 1859-1890, John Gorham Palfrey, History of New England During the Stuart Dynasty

     Laud was busy with his more important plan of prelatizing the Church of Scotland