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Word Study
congregation
CIDE DICTIONARY
congregation, n. [L. congregatio: cf. F. congrégation.].
- The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting into one aggregate or mass. [1913 Webster]"The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of homogeneal parts." [1913 Webster]
- A collection or mass of separate things. [1913 Webster]"A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors." [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]"He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations." [1913 Webster]
- The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also
Congregation of the Lord . [1913 Webster]"It is a sin offering for the congregation." [1913 Webster] - 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. [1913 Webster]
- The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [1913 Webster]
- the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
congregation, n.
1 the process of congregating; collection into a crowd or mass.
2 a crowd or mass gathered together.
3 a a body assembled for religious worship. b a body of persons regularly attending a particular church etc. c RC Ch. a body of persons obeying a common religious rule. d RC Ch. any of several permanent committees of the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals.
4 (Congregation) Brit. (in some universities) a general assembly of resident senior members.
1 the process of congregating; collection into a crowd or mass.
2 a crowd or mass gathered together.
3 a a body assembled for religious worship. b a body of persons regularly attending a particular church etc. c RC Ch. a body of persons obeying a common religious rule. d RC Ch. any of several permanent committees of the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals.
4 (Congregation) Brit. (in some universities) a general assembly of resident senior members.
Etymology
ME f. OF congregation or L congregatio (as congregate)
ROGET THESAURUS
congregation
Assemblage
N assemblage, collection, collocation, colligation, compilation, levy, gathering, ingathering, muster, attroupement, team, concourse, conflux, congregation, contesseration, convergence, meeting, levee, reunion, drawing room, at home, conversazione, assembly, congress, convention, conventicle, gemote, conclave, posse, posse comitatus, Noah's ark, miscellany, collectanea, museum, menagerie, museology, crowd, throng, group, flood, rush, deluge, rabble, mob, press, crush, cohue, horde, body, tribe, crew, gang, knot, squad, band, party, swarm, shoal, school, covey, flock, herd, drove, atajo, bunch, drive, force, mulada, remuda, roundup, array, bevy, galaxy, corps, company, troop, troupe, task force, army, regiment, host, populousness, clan, brotherhood, fraternity, sorority, association, volley, shower, storm, cloud, group, cluster, Pleiades, clump, pencil, set, batch, lot, pack, budget, assortment, bunch, parcel, packet, package, bundle, fascine, fasces, bale, seron, seroon, fagot, wisp, truss, tuft, shock, rick, fardel, stack, sheaf, haycock, fascicle, fascicule, fasciculus, gavel, hattock, stook, accumulation, congeries, heap, lump, pile, rouleau, tissue, mass, pyramid, bing, drift, snowball, snowdrift, acervation, cumulation, glomeration, agglomeration, conglobation, conglomeration, conglomerate, coacervate, coacervation, coagmentation, aggregation, concentration, congestion, omnium gaterum, spicilegium, black hole of Calcutta, quantity, collector, gatherer, whip, whipper in, assembled, closely packed, dense, serried, crowded to suffocation, teeming, swarming, populous, as thick as hops, all of a heap, fasciculated cumulative, the plot thickens, acervatim, tibi seris tibi metis.Worship
N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.Laity
N laity, flock, fold, congregation, assembly, brethren, people, society, temporality, secularization, layman, civilian, parishioner, catechumen, secularist, secular, lay, laical, civil, temporal, profane.Also see definition of "congregation" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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