congregation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an assemblage of people or animals or things collected together

   A congregation of fans pleaded for the star's autograph.

2. 2
   noun

   A gathering of faithful in a temple, church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship. It can also refer to the people who are present at a devotional service in the building, particularly in contrast to the pastor, minister, imam, rabbi etc. and/or choir, who may be seated apart from the general congregation or lead the service (notably in responsory form).

   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.

3. 3
   noun

   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 .

4. 4
   noun

   A flock of various birds, such as plovers or eagles.

   "Oh! I wasted most of my morning crawling to a murmuration of starlings, which I foolishly mistook for congregation of plover."

5. 5
   noun

   the act of congregating

6. 6
   noun

   a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church

7. 7
   noun

   The act of congregating or collecting together.

8. 8
   noun

   A Roman Congregation, a main department of the Vatican administration of the Catholic Church.

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.