Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Synod
Syn′od
(sĭn′ŭd)
, Noun.
[L.
synodus
, Gr. σύνοδοσ
a meeting; σύν
with + ὁδόσ
a way; cf. AS. sinoð
, senoð
, F. synode
, both from the Latin.] 1.
(Eccl. Hist.)
An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
☞ Synods are of four kinds: 1. General, or ecumenical, which are composed of bishops from different nations; – commonly called general council. 2. National, composed of bishops of one nation only. 3. Provincial, in which the bishops of only one province meet; – called also convocations. 4. Diocesan, a synod in which the bishop of the diocese or his representative presides. Among Presbyterians, a synod is composed of several adjoining presbyteries. The members are the ministers and a ruling elder from each parish.
2.
An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
It hath in solemn
Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
To admit no traffic to our adverse towns.
synods
been decreed,Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
To admit no traffic to our adverse towns.
Shakespeare
Parent of gods and men, propitious Jove!
And you, bright
And you, bright
synod
of the powers above. Dryden.
3.
(Astron.)
A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.
[R.]
Milton.
Definition 2024
synod
synod
English
Noun
synod (plural synods)
- An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
- An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
- Shakespeare
- It hath in solemn synods been decreed.
- Dryden
- Parent of gods and men, propitious Jove! And you, bright synod of the powers above.
- Milton
- A third part of the Gods, in synod met
- Their deities to assert; who, while they feel
- Vigour divine within them, can allow
- Omnipotence to none.
- Shakespeare
- (astronomy) A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.
Usage notes
Usage differs between different churches – see uses in different Communions.
Derived terms
Hypernyms
Translations
ecclesiastic council or meeting