Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Church
Church
(chûrch)
, Noun.
[OE.
chirche
, chireche
, cherche
, Scot. kirk
, from AS. circe
, cyrice
; akin to D. kerk
, Icel. kirkja
, Sw. kyrka
, Dan. kirke
, G. kirche
, OHG. chirihha
; all fr. Gr. κυριακόν
the Lord’s house, fr. κυριακόσ
concerning a master or lord, fr. κύριοσ
master, lord, fr. κῦροσ
power, might; akin to Skr. çūra
hero, Zend. çura
strong, OIr. caur
, cur
, hero. Cf. Kirk
.] 1.
A building set apart for Christian worship.
2.
A Jewish or heathen temple.
[Obs.]
Acts xix. 37.
3.
A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together.
“When they had ordained them elders in every church.” Acts xiv. 23.
4.
A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination;
as, the Roman Catholic
. church
; the Presbyterian church
5.
The collective body of Christians.
6.
Any body of worshipers;
as, the Jewish
. church
; the church
of Brahm7.
The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.;
as, to array the power of the
. church
against some moral evilRemember that both
church
and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. Bulwer.
☞
Church
is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as,
church
authority; church
history; church
member; church
music, etc.Apostolic church
. See under
– Apostolic
. Broad church
. See
– Broad Church
. Catholic church
or Universal church
the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world.
– Church of England
, or English church
the Episcopal church established and endowed in England by law.
– Church living
, a benefice in an established church.
– Church militant
. See under
– Militant
. Church owl
(Zool.)
, the white owl. See
– Barn owl
. Church rate
, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of the church and its services.
– Church session
. See under
– Session
. Church triumphant
. See under
– Triumphant
. Church work
, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion.
– Established church
, the church maintained by the civil authority; a state church.
Church
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Churched
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Churching
.] To bless according to a prescribed form, or to unite with in publicly returning thanks in church, as after deliverance from the dangers of childbirth;
as, the
. churching
of womenWebster 1828 Edition
Church
CHURCH
, n.1.
A house consecrated to the worship of God, among Christians; the Lords house. This seems to be the original meaning of the word. The Greek, to call out or call together, denotes an assembly or collection. But, Lord, a term applied by the early Christians to Jesus Christ; and the house in which they worshipped was named from the title. So church goods, bona ecclesiastica; the Lords day, dies dominica.2.
The collective body of Christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ, and acknowledge him to be the Savior of mankind. In this sense, the church is sometimes called the Catholic or Universal Church.3.
A particular number of christens, united under one form of ecclesiastical government, in one creed, and using the same ritual and ceremonies; as the English church; the Gallican church; the Presbyterian church; the Romish church; the Greek church.4.
The followers of Christ in a particular city or province; as the church of Ephesus, or of Antioch.5.
The disciples of Christ assembled for worship in a particular place, as in a private house. Col. 4.6.
The worshipers of Jehovah or the true God, before the advent of Christ; as the Jewish church.7.
The body of clergy, or ecclesiastics, in distinction from the laity. Hence, ecclesiastical authority.8.
An assembly of sacred rulers convened in Christs name to execute his laws.9.
The collective body of Christians, who have made a public profession of the Christian religion, and who are untied under the same pastor; in distinction from those who belong to the same parish, or ecclesiastical society, but have made no profession of their faith.CHURCH
,Verb.
T.