I.an assembly of the (Greek) people.
I. Prop.: et ecclesia consentiente, senate and people, in the free cities of Greece: bule et ecclesia, Plin. et Traj. Ep. 111, 1. —
II. Transf.
A. In eccl. Lat.
1. A religious assembly of Christians, a Christian congregation, a church (eccl. Lat.; “very freq.): die ecclesiae, etc.,” Vulg. Matt. 18, 17; id. Philem. 2; Aug. Ep. 190, 5, 19.—
2. The Church, the whole body of believers: “Christus dilexit ecclesiam,” Vulg. Eph. 5, 25: “Dei,” id. Phil. 3, 6; Aug. Serm. 137, 6; so, “in coelo,” Vulg. Heb. 12, 23.—
3. A Christian place of assembly, a church: “ut nomine ecclesiae, id est populi qui continetur, significamus locum qui continet,” Aug. Ep. 190, 5, 19; cf. also Amm. 21, 2 fin.; id. 28, 6 fin. —
B. An assembly, a meeting in gen., Aus. Ep. 24, 93.
