ecclēsĭa (ēcclĕsĭa, Sedul. 5, 358; Venant. Carm. 3, 6, 24; and ĕclĕsĭa, Paul. Nol. Carm. 15, 117; 28, 32), ae, f., = ἐκκλησία, 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.