chapter

—chapteral, adj.

/chap"teuhr/, n.

1. a main division of a book, treatise, or the like, usually bearing a number or title.

2. a branch, usually restricted to a given locality, of a society, organization, fraternity, etc.: the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross.

3. an important portion or division of anything: The atomic bomb opened a new chapter in history.

4. Eccles.

a. an assembly of the monks in a monastery, of those in a province, or of the entire order.

b. a general assembly of the canons of a church.

c. a meeting of the elected representatives of the provinces or houses of a religious community.

d. the body of such canons or representatives collectively.

5. any general assembly.

6. Liturgy. a short scriptural quotation read at various parts of the office, as after the last psalm in the service of lauds, prime, tierce, etc.

7. Horol. any of the marks or numerals designating the hours on a dial.

v.t.

8. to divide into or arrange in chapters.

[1175-1225; ME chapiter, var. of chapitre < OF < L capitulum little head (capit-, s. of caput head + -ulum -ULE); in LL: section of a book; in ML: section read at a meeting, hence, the meeting, esp. one of canons, hence, a body of canons]

Syn. 3. era, episode, period, phase.

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