church English · revision 2559

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 750 (Cynewulf)|origins=grc κυριακόν}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /tʃɜːtʃ/, US /tʃɝːtʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|chirche]], [[inh|ang|cirice]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gmw-pro|*kirika]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) probably borrowed by way of an unrecorded Gothic word^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|κυρικόν|tr=kurikón]], for [[m|grc|κυριακόν|tr=kuriakón]], short for kuriakòn dôma “the Lord's house”,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) the neuter of [[m|grc|κυριακός|tr=kuriakós|t=of the lord]], from [[m|grc|κύριος|tr=kúrios|t=lord, master]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces ''kúrios'' to [[ine-pro|*keuə-|t=to swell]], with derivatives meaning “strong, powerful”,^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) and Barnhart compares Sanskrit śū́ra “hero”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) The Germanic cognates include [[osx|kirika]], [[nl|kerk]], [[de|Kirche]] and [[non|kirkja]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and the Slavic forms, such as Russian [[m|ru|церковь|tr=cerkovʹ]], were probably borrowed from Germanic.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline notes that Greek ''kuriakón'' was used of Christian houses of worship from about 300, though less often than [[m|grc|ἐκκλησία|tr=ekklēsía]], the source of the Romance and Celtic words such as French [[m|fr|église]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A building for public Christian worship: Old English ''cirice'', 696 in the OED;^(OED 1989) Barnhart cites Cynewulf, about 750, for both the place of worship and the Christians collectively.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English the word also meant ecclesiastical authority.^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes that the spelling ''church'' appears at the end of the 13th century, becomes more frequent after 1450 and is established in the 16th century,^(Barnhart 1988) while northern ''kirk'' continues the form with ''k''.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) After the Reformation ''church'' came to be used of any particular Christian denomination.^(Etymonline) Trench notes that earlier English also called a Jewish or pagan temple a ''church'', so that ''robbers of churches'' in the King James Version of Acts 19:37 is not an oversight.^(Trench 1859) The verb, “to bring to church for a rite”, is from the 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) especially of a woman giving thanks after childbirth from 1387.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 696 – Old English ''cirice''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 750 – the Christian community (Cynewulf).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – Middle English ''chirche'' (Layamon).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1387 – verb, to church a woman after childbirth.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – the spelling ''church'' established.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A building for public, especially Christian, [[worship]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(often Church)'' The whole body of Christians; a particular Christian [[denomination]]; a [[congregation]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Public worship; a religious service.^(AHD)

+ # The [[clergy]] as a profession.^(AHD)

+ # Ecclesiastical power as opposed to the state.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold a church service for, especially for a woman after childbirth.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the church; [[ecclesiastical]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[church key]]

+ * [[church mode]]

+ * [[church school]]

+ * [[church triumphant]]

+ * [[collegiate church]]

+ * [[kirk]]

+ * [[Kyrie]]

+ * [[ecclesiastical]]

+ * [[cave]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}