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Webster 1913 Edition


Synod

Syn′od

(sĭn′ŭd)
,
Noun.
[L.
synodus
, Gr.
σύνοδοσ
a meeting;
σύν
with +
ὁδόσ
a way; cf. AS.
sinoð
,
senoð
, F.
synode
, both from the Latin.]
1.
(Eccl. Hist.)
An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
Synods are of four kinds: 1. General, or ecumenical, which are composed of bishops from different nations; – commonly called general council. 2. National, composed of bishops of one nation only. 3. Provincial, in which the bishops of only one province meet; – called also convocations. 4. Diocesan, a synod in which the bishop of the diocese or his representative presides. Among Presbyterians, a synod is composed of several adjoining presbyteries. The members are the ministers and a ruling elder from each parish.
2.
An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
It hath in solemn
synods
been decreed,
Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
To admit no traffic to our adverse towns.
Shakespeare
Parent of gods and men, propitious Jove!
And you, bright
synod
of the powers above.
Dryden.
3.
(Astron.)
A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.
[R.]
Milton.

Definition 2024


synod

synod

English

Noun

synod (plural synods)

  1. An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
  2. An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  3. An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
    • Shakespeare
      It hath in solemn synods been decreed.
    • Dryden
      Parent of gods and men, propitious Jove! And you, bright synod of the powers above.
    • Milton
      A third part of the Gods, in synod met
      Their deities to assert; who, while they feel
      Vigour divine within them, can allow
      Omnipotence to none.
  4. (astronomy) A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.


Usage notes

Usage differs between different churches – see uses in different Communions.

Derived terms

Hypernyms

Translations

Anagrams


Czech

Noun

synod m

  1. synod (an ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters)

Synonyms