congregation
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌkɒŋɡɹɪˈɡeɪʃən//
- United States//ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən//
The act of congregating or collecting together.
noun
- 1
The act of congregating or collecting together.
- 2
A gathering of faithful in a temple, church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship, especially those present at a devotional service or who regularly attend such services, particularly in contrast to the leadership, choir or others.
The critically low level of rainfall in the second half of 2020 – approaching 50% year on year for November – led the religious affairs directorate to instruct imams and their congregations to pray for rain last month.
In Hebrew, bonai shalom means “builders of peace,” and the congregation welcomes both Jews and non-Jews to participate in all aspects of the community.
- 3
A Roman Congregation, a main department of the Vatican administration of the Catholic Church.
- 4
A corporate body whose members gather for worship, or the members of such a body.
- 5
Any large gathering of people.
During the wedding ( usually held on a Saturday ) , you and your committee sit on " facing benches ” before the rest of the congregation ( your guests ) . Everyone worships silently until you two feel that it's time to say your vows .
- 6
A flock of birds.
Bald eagles gather in significant numbers along the middle Skagit during the winter to feed on migrating salmon. This congregation of eagles is reported to be the largest wintering group on the contiguous West Coast.
"Oh! I wasted most of my morning crawling to a murmuration of starlings, which I foolishly mistook for congregation of plover."
I was excited to ramp up our cave-diving efforts, and to see my first big congregation of penguins.
There was a congregation of pigeons inside the shack, he realized, pushing their beaks through the wooden lattice at the front.
- 7
A group of alligators or crocodiles.
A congregation of crocodiles will communicate with body language and behavior and are also extremely territorial predators.
a large congregation of crocodiles lazing by the side of a swamp; with their thick, tough skin, coarse and lumpy and always coated in mud, they were the embodiment of hideousness, these creatures as old as time
One of Bartram's most famous passages, and the one most often used to exemplify his gift for exaggeration, is his account of a congregation of alligators on the upper reaches of the St. Johns River in Florida during what seems to be a run of fish
This explained what had been a puzzle to the most knowing of the party-that wonderful congregation of crocodiles.
- 8
The main body of university staff, comprising academics, administrative staff, heads of colleges, etc.
Etymology
From Middle English congregacioun, from Old French congregacion, from Latin congregātiō, itself from congregō (“to herd into a flock”). Adopted (1520s) by the English Bible translator William Tyndale, to render the Ancient Greek ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía, “those called together, (popular) meeting”) (hence Latin ecclēsia) in his New Testament, and preferred by 16th century Reformers instead of church. By surface analysis, congregate + -ion.
Forms
- plural
- congregations
congregation · The act of congregating or collecting together.
congress · A formal gathering or assembly of persons; a conference held…Congress · The two legislative bodies of the United States: the House of…congressional · Of or relating to a congress.