'Consistory' definitions:

Definition of 'consistory'

noun

A church tribunal or governing body

From: GCIDE

Consistory \Con*sis"to*ry\, a. Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." --Strype. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Consistory \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. [1913 Webster]
To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. (Eng. Ch.) The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. --Hook. [1913 Webster]
3. (R. C. Ch.) An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. [1913 Webster]
Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
4. A church tribunal or governing body. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]