See Also: communion(dictionary)
First Communion(dictionary)
communion(dictionary)
Anglican Communion, the(dictionary)
Holy Communion(dictionary)

communion (iou)



communion noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French, or Latin communio(n-), from communis COMMON adjective: see -ION. The religious uses depend on ecclesiastical Latin.]
I.
Sharing, holding or being held in common, community; fellowship; (an) association in action, relation, or function. LME.
Bible (AV): 2 Corinthians 6:14 What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? A. Wilson Three elderly English scholars with no real communion of feeling except their nationality.
Communication, social contact. E17.
W. Raleigh The Israelites never had any communion or affairs with the Ethiopians.
Intimate mental or spiritual communing. literary. E19.
R. Ford That health of body and soul which ever rewards a close communion with Nature.
II.
The fellowship or mutual recognition between members of one Church, esp. between branches of the Catholic Church. Also, an organized body of people united by common religious faith and rites; esp. a body professing one branch of the Christian faith. LME.
communion of saints: see SAINT noun & adjective. lay communion: see LAY adjective.
Also Communion. (Participation in) the Eucharist. Also more fully Holy Communion. LME.
close Communion: restricted to selected Church members; esp. among Baptists, to those baptized by immersion. Communion in both kinds: in which both the consecrated elements of bread and wine are administered. Communion in one kind: in which only one consecrated element is administered. free Communion = open Communion below. lay communion: see LAY adjective. open Communion: administered to any Christian believer. strict Communion = close Communion above.
Comb.: Communion-cloth = altar-cloth s.v. ALTAR noun; Communion-cup, Communion-plate, etc.: used for the consecrated elements at Holy Communion; Communion-rail a rail in front of an altar or Communion table behind which people can receive Communion; Communion table the table or altar at which Holy Communion is celebrated.
communionist noun (a) rare = COMMUNICANT noun 1; (b) an adherent of a specified (strict etc.) type of Communion: M17.