Definitions for: Congregation


[n] the act of congregating
[n] an assemblage of people or animals or things collected together; "a congregation of children pleaded for his autograph"; "a great congregation of birds flew over"
[n] a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

The means of reduction in the fire is but by the
congregation of homogeneal parts. --Bacon.

2. A collection or mass of separate things.

A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. --Shak.

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.

He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached
there to large and attentive congregations.
--Macaulay.

4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.) The whole body of the Jewish people;
-- called also Congregation of the Lord.

It is a sin offering for the congregation. --Lev.
iv. 21.

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.

6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or
Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees.
[Eng.]

7. (Scotch Church Hist.) the name assumed by the Protestant
party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves
(1557) Lords of the Congregation.

Synonyms: congregating, faithful, fold

See Also: accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, assemblage, assembly, collection, denomination, flock, gathering, social group

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