- Congregation
- Congregation Con`gre*ga"tion, n. [L. congregatio: cf. F.
congr['e]gation.]
1. The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of
collecting into one aggregate or mass.
[1913 Webster]
The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of homogeneal parts. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
2. A collection or mass of separate things. [1913 Webster]
A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. An assembly of persons; a gathering; esp. an assembly of persons met for the worship of God, and for religious instruction; a body of people who habitually so meet. [1913 Webster]
He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.) The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also {Congregation of the Lord}. [1913 Webster]
It is a sin offering for the congregation. --Lev. iv. 21. [1913 Webster]
5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted some department of the church business; as, the Congregation of the Propaganda, which has charge of the missions of the Roman Catholic Church. (b) A company of religious persons forming a subdivision of a monastic order. [1913 Webster]
6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]
7. (Scotch Church Hist.) the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.