conventicle

[ kuhn-ven-ti-kuhl ]

noun

1. a secret or unauthorized meeting, especially for religious worship, as those held by Protestant dissenters in England in the 16th and 17th centuries.
2. a place of meeting or assembly, especially a Nonconformist meeting house.
3. Obsolete. a meeting or assembly.

conventicle

/ kənˈvɛntɪkəl /

noun

1. a secret or unauthorized assembly for worship
2. a small meeting house or chapel for a religious assembly, esp of Nonconformists or Dissenters

Derived Forms

• conˈventicler, noun

Other Words From

• con·venti·cler noun
• con·ven·tic·u·lar [kon-ven-, tik, -y, uh, -ler], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conventicle¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin conventiculum a small assembly. See convent, -i-, -cle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of conventicle¹

C14: from Latin conventiculum a meeting, from conventus; see convent

Example Sentences

In 1695 we hear of a conventicle in Bungay, with a preacher with a regularly paid stipend of £40 a year.

From Project Gutenberg

While we were talking came by several poor creatures carried by, by constables, for being at a conventicle.

From Project Gutenberg

In the height of his resentment he addressed first one, and then another, "What, have you been to the conventicle?"

From Project Gutenberg

It sounded like the cant of the conventicle to ears unaccustomed to the language of piety from the lips of politicians.

From Project Gutenberg

I tell you no; I take it he is an Englishman, and not a conventicle-man.

From Project Gutenberg