Metropolitical is often misspelled due to its uncommon usage in everyday language. The correct spelling is /mɛtrəˈpɒlɪtɪkəl/. The word is derived from the prefix "metro-" meaning "city" and "political" meaning "relating to governance." Together, they create a term that specifically refers to the governance of a metropolitan area or the head of a metropolitan church. Remembering the base word "politics" within it can aid in recalling the correct spelling.
Metropolitical refers to something that pertains to a metropolis, particularly in terms of its religious or ecclesiastical authority. The term is often used in the context of the Christian church, particularly the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches, where it pertains to the highest rank or level of authority held by a bishop within a particular region or diocese.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a metropolitical bishop, also known as a metropolitan or metropolitan bishop, is a bishop who oversees a group of dioceses within a larger ecclesiastical province. The metropolitan has authority over the other bishops, known as suffragan bishops, in their respective dioceses. This position is typically held by a bishop of a historically important or significant city within a region.
Similarly, in the Anglican Church, metropolitical refers to the authority vested in an archbishop, who has supervisory responsibilities over a province or multiple dioceses. The archbishop is considered the metropolitan of the province, and along with other bishops, holds administrative and spiritual authority over the clergy and the faithful within their jurisdiction.
Overall, the term metropolitical conveys the idea of hierarchical authority, often associated with the leadership of a major city or significant ecclesiastical center within a particular region.
The word "metropolitical" comes from the combination of two roots: "metropolis" and "-ical".
- "Metropolis" originates from the Greek word "metropolis" (μητρόπολις), which can be broken down as "meter" (μήτηρ) meaning "mother" and "polis" (πόλις) meaning "city". In ancient Greece, a metropolis referred to the principal city or mother city of a region or state. Over time, the term expanded to encompass any large and important city, often serving as the central hub of a specific region or area.
- "-ical" is a suffix in English that is commonly used to form adjectives. It is derived from the Latin suffix "-icus" and the Greek suffix "-ikos", both of which indicate a resemblance or connection to a particular noun.