classis

noun

clas·​sis ˈkla-sis 

plural classes ˈkla-ˌsēz 

1

: a governing body in some Reformed churches (as in the former Reformed Church in the U.S.) corresponding to a presbytery

2

: the district governed by a classis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, class

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1