Holy See
8
7.7
- noun
- /ˈhoʊli si/
- Formal
:
Santa Sede
- The ambassador presented his credentials to the Holy See during a formal ceremony.
- Embassy to the Holy See
- ambassador to the Holy See
- Holy See in Rome
Examples
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During this time, the Holy See established a one-way, non-diplomatic representation with the United States.
Academic text (1996) -
You can hold a service passport from the Holy See without holding a Vatican City State passport.
Blog text (14) -
Caught the attention of the Holy See.
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I think the Holy See will find some use for me.
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To me, it seems a matter for the Holy See.
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Look, we're gonna deliver all our findings to the Holy See next Friday.
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For the first time, the Holy See found itself with direct and permanent representation in the Holy Land.
Academic text (2018) -
The throne of the Holy See is vacant.
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This is one of only three silver swords blessed by the Holy See.
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At the end of the year, the Holy See pleaded on behalf of the persecuted Armenians.
Academic text (1998)
Synonyms
10
7.8
The Pope's government that speaks for the Roman Catholic Church and acts like a small country
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'holy' (sacred) with 'see' (a bishop's seat), so a learner who knows both senses can infer a ‘sacred seat’ and an ecclesiastical center. However, 'see' in this sense is a specialized, somewhat archaic church term and the full institutional/sovereign meaning (the central governing body of the Catholic Church and its diplomatic status) is cultural and not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun Holy See may come from an old use of the word see, which meant a bishop's 'seat' or place of authority. So, the phrase points to the Pope's central office and leaders, which is why 'Holy See' means the Catholic Church's main governing body today.