communion

[kuh-myoon-yuhn]

noun

1. Also called Holy Communion. Christianity.,  Often Communion

   1. the celebration of the Eucharist .

   2. the act of receiving the Eucharistic elements.

   3. the elements of the Eucharist; the consecrated bread and wine.

   4. the antiphon sung at a Eucharistic service.

2. a group of persons having a common religious faith; a religious denomination.

   The Church of Pakistan is part of the Anglican communion.

   The organization promotes Islamic solidarity and fosters a sense of belonging to the Islamic communion worldwide.

3. a group of people sharing a profession, hobby, interest, etc..

   Just as there are rascals in the communion of bankers, editors, doctors, or barbers, so there are rascals among fishermen.

4. interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication.

   Each day I spend some time walking the trails in communion with nature.

   The two enjoyed a wordless communion in the comfort of each other’s company.

5. association; fellowship.

   Light has no communion with darkness.

6. the act of sharing something or holding it in common, or the state of something so held.

   Fundamental to Scots law was the “communion of goods,” the joint ownership of property by spouses.

communion

¹

/ kəˈmjuːnjən /

noun

1. an exchange of thoughts, emotions, etc

2. possession or sharing in common; participation

3. (foll by with) strong emotional or spiritual feelings (for)

   communion with nature

4. a religious group or denomination having a common body of beliefs, doctrines, and practices

5. the spiritual union held by Christians to exist between individual Christians and Christ, their Church, or their fellow Christians

Communion

²

/ kəˈmjuːnjən /

noun

1. the act of participating in the Eucharist

2. the celebration of the Eucharist, esp the part of the service during which the consecrated elements are received

3. 1. the consecrated elements of the Eucharist

   2. ( as modifier )

      Communion cup

Communion

1. A sacrament of Christianity. In a reenactment of the Last Supper, the words of Jesus — “This is my body” and “This is my blood” — are spoken over bread and wine (the elements of Communion), which are then shared by the worshipers. Communion, also known as the Eucharist, commemorates the death of Jesus. (See transubstantiation.)

Other Word Forms

• communionable adjective
• communional adjective
• self-communion noun
• communionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of communion¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin commūniōn-, stem of commūniō “mutual participation, sharing,” from commūn(is) common + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of communion¹

C14: from Latin commūniō general participation, from commūnis _common

Example Sentences

And despite his view of Nick’s new ambitions, Nelson invites him to a sort of dance-off, in a moment both playful and poignant; they can find communion in dance that eludes them whenever they talk.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Mullally is both principal bishop of the Church of England and also the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican communion.

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Women are in tears, young girls hug their friends, and that moment of joyful communion conveys what was at the heart of why the festival was so successful.

Read more on Salon

The activities of the Bangor Cathedral choir have been suspended for an initial period of one month following the protest during a communion service.

Read more on BBC

He attended Catholic school and remembers an active community in Mobile filled with baptisms, weddings and first communions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• intimacy 
• rapport 
• togetherness