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congregation definition

con·gre·ga·tion (käŋ′grə gā′s̸hən, kän′-)

noun

  1. a congregating or being congregated
  2. a gathering of people or things; assemblage
  3. an assembly of people for religious worship or teaching
  4. the members of a particular place of worship
  5. ☆ a settlement, town, or parish in the colonies of early New England where Congregationalism was established
  6. Bible the whole body or assembly of Israelites
  7. R.C.Ch.
    1. any of certain religious communities following a common rule
    2. a division of an order, made up of a group of monasteries
    3. a committee, as of cardinals, in charge of some department of church affairs

Etymology: ME congregacioun < OFr congregation or L congregatio, an assembling (in ML(Ec), religious community)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

congregation Synonyms

congregation

n.

meeting, group, assemblage; see gathering.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

congregation Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • saint: Here they are: As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches.

Converse of object

  • found: With the help of Saint Louise de Marillac he founded also founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity.

Preposition: for

  • conferment: Postgraduate Ceremonies Timetable Congregations for the Conferment of Higher and Honorary Degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas will take place in December, 2006.

Adjective modifier

  • Presbyterian: WILLIAM BIGGAR, min. of the Presbyterian congregation at Limerick, where he was imprisoned in 1698, merely for performing his ministerial duty.

Noun used with modifier

  • URC: A URC logo can help those specifically looking for URC congregation.
congregation usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

congregation quotes

As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keepsthem invery good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it [the church] besides himself; for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it, he stands up, and looks about him; and if he sees anybody else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servant to them.

-Addison,Joseph

We receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ's flock, and dosign him with thesign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen.

-Book of Common Prayer

Wherever God erects a house of prayer, The Devil always builds a chapel there; And 'twill be found, upon examination, The latter hast the largest congregation.

-Defoe, Daniel

congregation quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"congregation." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/congregation>

APA Style

congregation. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/congregation

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