synod

noun

1. an ecclesiastical council; specif.,
   1. R.C.Ch. a regional or international meeting of bishops; also, a meeting of diocesan priests, the diocesan bishop presiding
   2. Eastern Orthodox Ch. Holy Synod
2. a high governing body in certain Christian churches; specif.,
   1. a Presbyterian governing body ranking between the general assembly and presbytery
   2. a national or district organization of Lutheran or certain other Protestant churches
3. a district governed or represented by a Protestant synod
4. any assembly or council

Origin: ME, altered (after LL) < OE sinoth < LL(Ec) synodus < LGr(Ec) synodos, church synod < Gr, a meeting, lit., a coming together < syn-, together + hodos, way: see -ode