Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A coworker; an assistant.
  • noun Ecclesiastical A subordinate bishop designated as an assistant and usually as a successor to the bishop of a given diocese.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who aids another; an assistant; a helper; an associate in occupation.
  • noun One who is empowered or appointed to perform the duties of another. Johnson. Specifically
  • noun The assistant of a bishop or other prelate. A permanent coadjutor may or may not be appointed, with right of succession.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who aids another; an assistant; a coworker.
  • noun (R. C. Ch.) The assistant of a bishop or of a priest holding a benefice.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An assistant or helper.
  • noun ecclesiastical An assistant to a bishop.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an assistant to a bishop

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English coadjutour, assistant, from Latin coadiūtor : co-, co- + adiūtor, assistant (from adiūtāre, to aid; see adjutant).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French coadjuteur, from Latin coadiūtor, from co- + adiūtor ("helper").

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Examples

  • The smaller one, whom I have called the coadjutor, because her throne was less elevated than the princess ', put her finger on a button and a violent ringing broke the silence of the vast hallway.

    With Those Who Wait Frances Wilson Huard

  • Coadjutors are also temporary and perpetual; the first has no succession, the latter has, and is called coadjutor with right of succession.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2: Assizes-Browne 1840-1916 1913

  • First, they lie in wait for fat livings or sees which are held by an old or sick man, or even by one afflicted by an imaginary incompetence; him the Roman see gives a coadjutor, that is an assistant without his asking or wishing it, for the benefit of the coadjutor, because he is a papal servant, or pays for the office, or has otherwise earned it by some menial service rendered to Rome.

    Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils 1909

  • He said his successor would be elected during 2007, and would act with him as "coadjutor" until he stepped down.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2006

  • Then, a notable person in Rome, from out of nowhere, discusses the pronunciation of 'coadjutor' on his website albeit an old post - 5/23/06 - so did he know then?

    All-rightey then... Terry Nelson 2006

  • Then, a notable person in Rome, from out of nowhere, discusses the pronunciation of 'coadjutor' on his website albeit an old post - 5/23/06 - so did he know then?

    Archive 2006-06-04 Terry Nelson 2006

  • Then, a notable person in Rome, from out of nowhere, discusses the pronunciation of 'coadjutor' on his website albeit an old post - 5/23/06 - so did he know then?

    Archive 2006-06-01 Terry Nelson 2006

  • Due to Pilarczyk's age, instead of sending an assistant bishop to help him, a "coadjutor" is sent to work alongside him and, eventually, succeed him, Andriacco said.

    Cincinnati.Com - All Local News 2008

  • We have coadjutor bishops, suffragan bishops and assisting bishops.

    A pro-choice Catholic is the new Notre Dame football coach « Dating Jesus 2009

  • As coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, O'Connell will succeed the Most Rev. John Mortimer Smith when the pope "accepts his resignation as required by canon law," at a date to be determined, according to a release from Catholic.

    CUA president appointed bishop of Trenton 2010

Comments

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  • "This important step secured, with the assistance of a man of law whom he brought with him for the purpose, the dwarf proceeded to establish himself and his coadjutor in the house, as an assertion of his claim against all comers; and then set about making his quarters comfortable after his own fashion." (p 137 of the Penguin English Library edition)

    November 14, 2007