Congress \Con"gress\, n.; pl. Congresses. [L. congressus, fr.
congredi, p. p. -gressus, to go or come together; con- +
grati to go or step, gradus step: cf. F. congr?s. See
Grade.]
1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an
encounter. [Obs.]
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Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there;
Their congress in the field great Jove withstands.
--Dryden.
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2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of
things. [Obs.]
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From these laws may be deduced the rules of the
congresses and reflections of two bodies. --Cheyne.
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3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual
commerce; the act of coition. --Pennant.
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4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.
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5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies,
representatives, envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting
of the representatives of several governments or societies
to consider and determine matters of common interest.
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The European powers strove to . . . accommodate
their differences at the congress of Vienna.
--Alison.
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6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the
people of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the
chief legislative body of the nation.
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Note: In the Congress of the United States (which took the
place of the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the
Senate consists of two Senators from each State, chosen
by the State legislature for a term of six years, in
such a way that the terms of one third of the whole
number expire every year; the House of Representatives
consists of members elected by the people of the
several Congressional districts, for a term of two
years, the term of all ending at the same time. The
united body of Senators and Representatives for any
term of two years for which the whole body of
Representatives is chosen is called one Congress. Thus
the session which began in December, 1887, was the
first (or long) session, and that which began in
December, 1888, was the second (or short) session, of
the Fiftieth Congress. When an extra session is had
before the date of the first regular meeting of a
Congress, that is called the first session, and the
following regular session is called the second session.
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7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of
which are elected for three years.
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The Continental Congress, an assembly of deputies from the
thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to
deliberate in respect to their common interests. They
first met in 1774, and from time thereafter until near the
close of the Revolution.
The Federal Congress, the assembly of representatives of
the original States of the American Union, who met under
the Articles of Confederation from 1781 till 1789.
Congress boot or Congress gaiter, a high shoe or
half-boot, coming above the ankle, and having the sides
made in part of some elastic material which stretches to
allow the boot to be drawn on and off. [U.S.]
Congress water, a saline mineral water from the Congress
spring at Saratoga, in the State of New York.
Syn: Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council;
diet; conclave; parliament; legislature.
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