Word Direct Answers

What does "congregation" mean?

Congregation: A collection or mass of separate things. A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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.
  2. 3.(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.
  3. 4.5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted some departament 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.
  4. 5.The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [Eng.]
  5. 6.(Scotch Church Hist.) the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation.

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