conventicle

American  

[kuhn-ven-ti-kuhl] / kənˈvɛn tɪ kəl /

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.

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conventicle British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• conventicler
  noun
• conventicular
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of conventicle

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

Example Sentences

"You were somewhat disappointed, I fancy, Miss Torrington," said she, "to discover that though you had contrived to banish the conventicle from the house, it had raised its voice in the grounds."

From The Vicar of Wrexhill by Trollope, Mrs

I have my eyes upon you; and the first conventicle which you hold at the old town of Douglas shall seal your fate.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. XX by Leighton, Alexander

Also, though there is no church, there are two chapels; one of retiring position, the other conventicle of aggressive and red, red brick.

From The Brighton Road The Classic Highway to the South by Harper, Charles G. (Charles George)

But when we turn to Ben Jonson's Alchemist and come across Tribulation Wholesome, from Amsterdam, we know that the battle between the stage and the conventicle has begun.

From The Gentle Reader by Crothers, Samuel McChord

The house, Helen says, is a perfect conventicle.

From The Vicar of Wrexhill by Trollope, Mrs