Meanings
plural ecclesiae · plural ecclesias · alternative ekklesia
- historicalThe public legislative assembly of the Athenians.
- ecclesiasticalA church, either as a body or as a building.
The 1880s were no more peaceful for the ecclesias than had been the 1870s. Generally membership was increasing; so much so in London that two new ecclesias were formed, leaving about 200 in the older ecclesia at Islington.
1961, Bryan R[onald] Wilson, “The History of Christadelphianism”, in Sects and Society: A Sociological Study of Three Religious Groups in Britain (Heinemann Books on Sociology), London: William Heinemann Ltd, →OCLC, part III (The Christadelphians), page 247 - biblicalThe congregation, the group of believers, symbolic body or building.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐκκλησία
- Latinecclēsia
- Englishecclesia
Learned borrowing from Latin ecclēsia, from Ancient Greek ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía). Doublet of Eccles.
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
ecclesia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecclesia
“ecclesia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecclesia. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ecclesia,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecclesia.
Source: ecclesia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.