suffragan n. 副主教 在古代基督教教会，被任命协助大主教和主教的宗教事务的神职人员，被称作「乡村主教」〔chorepiscopi or bishops of the country〕，以区别于城市和主教教座的主教。有关副主教的任命事宜参见1534年《副主教法》〔Suffragan Bishops Act〕及1888年《副主教提名法》〔Suffragans Nomination Act〕。在近代，副主教永久地成为主教的助手。该职位不应与主教助理〔coadjutors〕混同。后者在主教生病期间被任命监督其管辖权和财产，前者无此职权。
suffragan (s[schwa]f-r[schwa]-g[schwa]n). A titular bishop ordained to assist a bishop of the diocese in the church business; a deputy or assistant bishop. • Suffragans were originally appointed only to replace absent bishops and were called chorepiscopi (“bishops of the county”), as distinguished from the regular bishops of the city or see.