conventicle

C2 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /kənˈvɛntəkəl/ UK /kənˈvɛntɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #491482

Meanings

1

noun
historical: a secret, unauthorized, or legally prohibited meeting for religious worship

The dissenters gathered for a conventicle in a private house outside the town.
2

noun
historical: a meeting place used by a Nonconformist or dissenting religious group

The magistrate ordered the conventicle closed after repeated complaints.
3

noun
disparaging: a small, secretive, or unlawful gathering

Opponents portrayed the discussion group as a conventicle of agitators.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · historical: a secret,... clandestine servicereligious meeting

2 noun · historical: a meeting place... meetinghousechapel

3 noun · disparaging: a small,... cabal cliquesecret meeting

Opposites

public assembly

Word family

Derived forms conventicler

Related forms convent convene Nonconformistmeetinghouse

Etymology

From Middle English conventicle and Latin conventiculum ('small assembly or meeting place'), a diminutive of conventus ('assembly'), from convenire ('to come together'). Religious restrictions gave the word its frequent sense of an illicit worship meeting.

Topics

Religion & Belief Register & Style

External links

# conventicle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈvɛntəkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈvɛntɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 491482

## Meanings
1. historical: a secret, unauthorized, or legally prohibited meeting for religious worship
2. historical: a meeting place used by a Nonconformist or dissenting religious group
3. disparaging: a small, secretive, or unlawful gathering

## Examples
- The dissenters gathered for a conventicle in a private house outside the town.
- The magistrate ordered the conventicle closed after repeated complaints.
- Opponents portrayed the discussion group as a conventicle of agitators.

## Synonyms
- religious meeting
- meetinghouse
- secret meeting
- cabal

## Antonyms
- public assembly

## Derived Forms
- conventicler

## Related Forms
- convent
- convene
- Nonconformist
- meetinghouse

## Etymology
From Middle English conventicle and Latin conventiculum ('small assembly or meeting place'), a diminutive of conventus ('assembly'), from convenire ('to come together'). Religious restrictions gave the word its frequent sense of an illicit worship meeting.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief
- Register & Style

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