|
(), 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. ra hero, Zend. 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 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. スポンサード リンク
|