ecclēsĭa
ae, f.
I.
an assembly of the (Greek) people.
I.
Prop.: et ecclesia consentiente, senate and people, in the free cities of Greece: bule et ecclesia, Plin. et Traj. Ep. 111, 1. —
II.
Transf.
A.
In eccl. Lat.
1.
A religious assembly of Christians, a Christian congregation, a church (eccl. Lat.; very freq.): die ecclesiae, etc., Vulg. Matt. 18, 17; id. Philem. 2; Aug. Ep. 190, 5, 19.—
2.
The Church, the whole body of believers: Christus dilexit ecclesiam, Vulg. Eph. 5, 25: Dei, id. Phil. 3, 6; Aug. Serm. 137, 6; so, in coelo, Vulg. Heb. 12, 23.—
3.
A Christian place of assembly, a church: ut nomine ecclesiae, id est populi qui continetur, significamus locum qui continet, Aug. Ep. 190, 5, 19; cf. also Amm. 21, 2 fin.; id. 28, 6 fin. —
B.
An assembly, a meeting in gen., Aus. Ep. 24, 93.