A prelate's a high-ranking member of the clergy who either's an ordinary or ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, literally, "carry before," or "to be set above, or over," or "to prefer," hence a prelate's one set over others. Related terminology A prelature's the office of a prelate or the entire juridical entity which the prelate governs. Prelacy's the body of prelates as a whole, or a system of government, adminis… (More on Prelate)