Text: Main Entry: 1church Pronunciation: 'ch&rch Function: noun Etymology: Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek, neuter of kyriakos of the lord, from kyrios lord, master; akin to Sanskrit sura hero, warrior Date: before 12th century 1 : a building for public and especially Christian worship 2 : the clergy or officialdom of a religious body 3 : a body or organization of religious believers: as a : the whole body of Christians b : DENOMINATION c : CONGREGATION 4 : a public divine worship 5 : the clerical profession ------------------------------ Main Entry: church register Function: noun Date: 1846 : a parish register of baptisms, marriages, and deaths ------------------------------ Church (Page: 255) 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. çūra hero, Zend. çura 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. &hand; 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 ? Universal church, the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world. -- Church of England, ? 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Page: 255) 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. -------------------------

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