Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Church?

\Church\, n. [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. ? the Lord's house, fr. ? concerning a master or lord, fr. ? master, lord, fr. ? power, might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura 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 Brahm. 7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil. Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. --Bulwer. Note: 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 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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\, v. 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 women.