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church definition

church (c̸hʉrc̸h)

noun

  1. a building set apart or consecrated for public worship, esp. one for Christian worship
  2. religious service or public worship, esp. among Christians
    1. all Christians considered as a single body
    2. a particular sect or denomination of Christians
  3. the ecclesiastical government of a particular religious group, or its power, as opposed to secular government
  4. the profession of the clergy; clerical profession
  5. a group of worshipers; congregation

Etymology: ME chirche, kirke < OE cirice (& ON kirkja < OE) < Gmc *kirika < LGr(Ec) *kyrikē < Gr kyriakē (oikia), Lord's (house) < kyriakos, belonging to the Lord < kyrios, ruler < kyros, supreme power < IE base *eu-, a swelling, to be strong, hero > cave

transitive verb

to bring (esp. a woman after childbirth) to church for special services

adjective

  1. having to do with organized Christian worship
  2. of or connected with a church
Church definition

Church (c̸hʉrc̸h)

Church, Frederic Edwin 1826-1900; U.S. landscape painter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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