Result from Foreign Dictionaries (3 entries found)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Church \Church\ (ch[^u]rch), 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. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power, might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. {Kirk}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A building set apart for Christian worship. [1913 Webster] 2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37. [1913 Webster] 3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders in every church." --Acts xiv. 23. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 5. The collective body of Christians. [1913 Webster] 6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. --Bulwer. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] {Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}. {Broad church}. See {Broad Church}. {Catholic church} 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} (Zool.), 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. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: church n 1: one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship [syn: {church}, {Christian church}] 2: a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty" [syn: {church}, {church building}] 3: a service conducted in a house of worship; "don't be late for church" [syn: {church service}, {church}] 4: the body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church; "our church is hosting a picnic next week" v 1: perform a special church rite or service for; "church a woman after childbirth"