congress

English Online Dictionary. What means congress‎? What does congress mean?

English

Etymology

From Latin congress(um), the past participle of congredior (“I go, come together”), itself from con- + gradior (“I go, step”). The verb is from the noun.

Compare typologically coven, convent, convention, several steps omitting from con- + veniō, Russian сход (sxod), схо́дка (sxódka), akin to сходи́ться (sxodítʹsja), ходи́ть (xodítʹ). Also compare Czech sjezd, Russian съезд (sʺjezd), akin to съезжа́ться (sʺjezžátʹsja), е́здить (jézditʹ). Also compare conference.

Pronunciation

• (noun:)
  • (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/, /-ɹɛs/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒŋˌɡɹɛs/
• (verb:)
  • IPA^(key): /kənˈɡɹɛs/, /kəŋˈɡɹɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Noun

congress (countable and uncountable, plural congresses)

1. (archaic) A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
   • , New York Review of Books, 2001, p.48:

     After some little repast, he went to see Democritus […]. The multitude stood gazing round about to see the congress.

2. A formal gathering or assembly; a conference held to discuss or decide on a specific question.
3. (often capitalized) A legislative body of a state, originally the bicameral legislature of the United States of America.

   Synonyms: assembly, legislature, parliament

4. An association, especially one consisting of other associations or representatives of interest groups.

   Synonym: federation

5. (dated) Coitus; sexual intercourse.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sexual intercourse
6. (countable, collective) A group of baboons; the collective noun for baboons.
   • 2013, Dick Hrebik, Walter Goes to War—WWII, Rolling Meadows, IL: Windy City Publishers, Chapter 7, p. 133,^[3]

     Saw a congress of baboons of all sizes making their way to a mountaintop to spend the night on the rocks and trees there.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

congress (third-person singular simple present congresses, present participle congressing, simple past and past participle congressed)

1. (intransitive) To assemble together.
2. To meet in a congress.