"pertaining to a diocese," mid-15c., from Old French diocésain (15c.) and directly from Medieval Latin diocesanus, from diocese (see diocese). As a noun, "a diocesan bishop," from mid-15c.
Entries linking to diocesan
diocese n.
"district and population under the pastoral care of a bishop," mid-14c., from Old French diocese (13c., Modern French diocèse), from Late Latin diocesis, in the Roman Empire "a governor's jurisdiction, a subdivision of a prefecture containing a number of provinces," later, in Church Latin, "a bishop's jurisdiction," from Greek dioikesis "government, administration; province," originally "economy, housekeeping," from dioikein "control, govern, administer, manage a house," from dia "thoroughly" (see dia-) + oikos "house" (from PIE root *weik- (1) "clan").