n. [ L. congregatio: cf. F. congrégation. ] 1. The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting into one aggregate or mass. [ 1913 Webster ]

The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of homogeneal parts. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A collection or mass of separate things. [ 1913 Webster ]

A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An assembly of persons; a gathering; esp. an assembly of persons met for the worship of God, and for religious instruction; a body of people who habitually so meet. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ Bunyan ] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.) The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also Congregation of the Lord. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a sin offering for the congregation. Lev. iv. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted some department of the church business; as, the Congregation of the Propaganda, which has charge of the missions of the Roman Catholic Church. (b) A company of religious persons forming a subdivision of a monastic order. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Scotch Church Hist.) the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a congregation; conducted, or participated in, by a congregation; as, congregational singing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Belonging to the system of Congregationalism, or to Congregationalist; holding to the faith and polity of Congregationalism; as, a Congregational church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That system of church organization which vests all ecclesiastical power in the assembled brotherhood of each local church. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faith and polity of the Congregational churches, taken collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense (which is its usual signification) Congregationalism is the system of faith and practice common to a large body of evangelical Trinitarian churches, which recognize the local brotherhood of each church as independent of all dictation in ecclesiastical matters, but are united in fellowship and joint action, as in councils for mutual advice, and in consociations, conferences, missionary organizations, etc., and to whose membership the designation “Congregationalists” is generally restricted; but Unitarian and other churches are Congregational in their polity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who belongs to a Congregational church or society; one who holds to Congregationalism. [ 1913 Webster ]