Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
(early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops from around the known world under the presidency of the Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and discipline;
- Example: "the first seven councils through 787 are considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by the Roman Catholic church"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Council \Coun"cil\ (koun"s[i^]l), n. [F. concile, fr. L.
concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. ??? to call,
and E. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often
confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]
[1913 Webster]
1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation,
deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for
consultation in a critical case.
[1913 Webster]
2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an
advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's
council; a city council.
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An old lord of the council rated me the other day.
--Shak.
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3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation.
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Satan . . . void of rest,
His potentates to council called by night. --Milton.
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O great in action and in council wise. --Pope.
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Aulic council. See under Aulic.
Cabinet council. See under Cabinet.
City council, the legislative branch of a city government,
usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common
council, but sometimes otherwise constituted.
Common council. See under Common.
Council board, Council table, the table round which a
council holds consultation; also, the council itself in
deliberation.
Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council
meets.
Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the
Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] --Bartlett.
Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank,
called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to
measures or importance or nesessity.
Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or
divines convened from the whole body of the church to
regulate matters of doctrine or discipline.
Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the
chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.]
Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature,
usually called the senate.
Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.]
Syn: Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament;
convention; convocation; synod.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ecumenic \Ec`u*men"ic\, Ecumenical \Ec`u*men"ic*al\, a. [L.
oecumenicus, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the inhabited world, fr. ? to
inhabit, from o'i^kos house, dwelling. See Economy.]
General; universal; in ecclesiastical usage, that which
concerns the whole church; as, an ecumenical council.
[Written also [oe]cumenical.]
[1913 Webster]
Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes.
Ecumenical council. See under Council.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ecumenical council
n 1: (early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops
from around the known world under the presidency of the
Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and
discipline; "the first seven councils through 787 are
considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman
Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the
next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by
the Roman Catholic church"