conventicle Definition
con·ven·ti·cle (kən ven′ti kəl)
noun
- a religious assembly held illegally and secretly by certain Protestant sects that disputed the authority of the Church of England in the 16th and 17th cent.
- the meeting place of such an assembly
Etymology: ME < OFr conventicule < L conventiculum, dim. of convent
conventicle Usage Examples
Converse of object
- attend: He was accused of attending conventicles in 1672, and died 15th March 1673, aged about 51.
- hold: Soon the death penalty was imposed on ministers holding conventicles.
- keep: Are there any parishioners keeping conventicles ( illegal religious meetings ) in private houses?
Noun used with modifier
holding: He was complained against at the Synod of Glasgow, 22nd Oct. 1674, for holding conventicles.
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