meeting-house

The community gathers in the meeting-house for a Sunday service.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A building used for religious worship: "Meeting-house" specifically refers to a building used for worship and religious gatherings, particularly by certain Protestant denominations such as Quakers, Puritans, and some other nonconformist groups. It is distinct from a "church" in that it often emphasizes simplicity and the congregation's gathering rather than a formal ecclesiastical structure.
   • A place of assembly: More generally, "meeting-house" can denote a building used for public meetings, community gatherings, or civic purposes, especially in historical or rural contexts.

Usage Examples

• (A building used for religious worship by Quakers.)
• (A building used for community or civic assembly.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go to meeting-house": to attend religious services at a meeting-house.

  • Every First Day, they would go to meeting-house for silent worship. (They attended Quaker meetings regularly.)

• "meeting-house culture": the social and religious traditions associated with meeting-houses, often emphasizing egalitarianism and simplicity.

  • The meeting-house culture of early New England shaped local governance. (The traditions of these buildings influenced community decision-making.)

Variants and Related Words

• Meeting (n): an assembly of people for a particular purpose, especially religious worship or discussion.

  • The meeting lasted two hours. (The gathering took two hours.)

• House (n): a building for human habitation or use; in compounds, it denotes a building dedicated to a specific function.

  • The old house was converted into a meeting-house. (The building was repurposed for gatherings.)

Synonyms

• Church: a building for public Christian worship (more formal and hierarchical than "meeting-house").
• Chapel: a small building or room used for Christian worship, often within a larger institution.
• Tabernacle: a place of worship, especially for certain Protestant groups (e.g., Mormons, Baptists).

Related Idioms

• "to be in the meeting-house": to be present at a formal religious or community assembly.

  • They were in the meeting-house when the decision was announced. (They were attending the gathering.)

• "meeting-house manners": polite behavior expected in formal or religious settings.

  • The children were taught meeting-house manners before the service. (They learned respectful conduct for worship.)