congregate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to come together, usually for a purpose

   The crowds congregated in front of the Vatican on Christmas Eve

2. 2
   verb

   To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to bring into one place, or into a united body.

   Any multitude of Christian men congregated may be termed by the name of a church.

3. 3
   verb

   To come together; to assemble; to meet.

   Even there where merchants most do congregate.

4. 4
   adj

   Congregated.

   VVith all the Gods about him congregate:

5. 5
   adj

   Congregated (organized on a congregational basis).

   congregate churches

6. 6
   adj

   Collective; assembled; compact.

   With this reservation, therefore, we proceed to human philosophy or humanity, which hath two parts: the one considereth man segregate or distributively, the other congregate or in society; so as human philosophy is either simple and particular, or conjugate and civil.

7. 7
   noun

   Assembled persons.

   That the congregates may frankelie shew their minds upon such matters as are to come before them.

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin congregātus, perfect passive participle of congregō (“to congregate”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3), from con- (“with, together”) + gregō (“to collect into a flock”), from grex (“flock, herd”). See gregarious and egregious. Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.