01 n. The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting into one aggregate or mass.
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1.
The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting into one aggregate or mass.“The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of homogeneal parts.” — Bacon.
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2.
A collection or mass of separate things.“A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.” — Shak.
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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.“He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations.” — Macaulay.
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4.
The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also Congregation of the Lord.(Anc. Jewish Hist.) Also: Congregation of the Lord“It is a sin offering for the congregation.” — Lev. iv. 21.
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5.
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.(R. C. Ch.)
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6.
The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees.[Eng.]
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7.
the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation.(Scotch Church Hist.)