Conventicle (Noun)
Meaning 1
A secret unauthorized meeting for religious worship.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A building for religious assembly (especially Nonconformists, e.g., Quakers).
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The secluded conventicle on the outskirts of town was the regular meeting place for the local Quaker community.
- The historic building had been a conventicle for Dissenters since the 17th century, serving as a secret place of worship during times of persecution.
- After the act of tolerance was passed, Nonconformists were finally allowed to openly erect a conventicle for their congregations.
- Traveling from town to town, the itinerant preacher would often lead services in a makeshift conventicle set up in a barn or tavern.
- Local legend stated that the old mansion had once been a conventicle for a group of early Methodists, who would sneak in under the cover of darkness for clandestine prayer meetings.