Communion \Com*mun"ion\, n. [L. communio: cf. F. communion. See
Common.]
1. The act of sharing; community; participation. "This
communion of goods." --Blackstone.
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2. Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate
association and intercourse implying sympathy and
confidence; interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.;
agreement; fellowship; as, the communion of saints.
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We are naturally induced to seek communion and
fellowship with others. --Hooker.
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What communion hath light with darkness? --2 Cor.
vi. 14.
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Bare communion with a good church can never alone
make a good man. --South.
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3. A body of Christians having one common faith and
discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion.
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4. The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the
Lord's supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as,
to go to communion; to partake of the communion; called
also Holy Communion.
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Close communion. See under Close, a.
Communion elements, the bread and wine used in the
celebration of the Lord's supper.
Communion service, the celebration of the Lord's supper, or
the office or service therefor.
Communion table, the table upon which the elements are
placed at the celebration of the Lord's supper.
Communion in both kinds, participation in both the bread
and wine by all communicants.
Communion in one kind, participation in but one element, as
in the Roman Catholic Church, where the laity partake of
the bread only.
Syn: Share; participation; fellowship; converse; intercourse;
unity; concord; agreement.
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Holy \Ho"ly\, a. [Compar. Holier; superl. Holiest.] [OE.
holi, hali, AS. h[=a]lig, fr. h[ae]l health, salvation,
happiness, fr. h[=a]l whole, well; akin to OS. h?lag, D. & G.
heilig, OHG. heilac, Dan. hellig, Sw. helig, Icel. heilagr.
See Whole, and cf. Halibut, Halidom, Hallow,
Hollyhock.]
1. Set apart to the service or worship of God; hallowed;
sacred; reserved from profane or common use; holy vessels;
a holy priesthood. "Holy rites and solemn feasts."
--Milton.
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2. Spiritually whole or sound; of unimpaired innocence and
virtue; free from sinful affections; pure in heart; godly;
pious; irreproachable; guiltless; acceptable to God.
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Now through her round of holy thought
The Church our annual steps has brought. --Keble.
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Holy Alliance (Hist.), a league ostensibly for conserving
religion, justice, and peace in Europe, but really for
repressing popular tendencies toward constitutional
government, entered into by Alexander I. of Russia,
Francis I. of Austria, and Frederic William III. of
Prussia, at Paris, on the 26th of September, 1815, and
subsequently joined by all the sovereigns of Europe,
except the pope and the king of England.
Holy bark. See Cascara sagrada.
Holy Communion. See Eucharist.
Holy family (Art), a picture in which the infant Christ,
his parents, and others of his family are represented.
Holy Father, a title of the pope.
Holy Ghost (Theol.), the third person of the Trinity; the
Comforter; the Paraclete.
Holy Grail. See Grail.
Holy grass (Bot.), a sweet-scented grass (Hierochloa
borealis and Hierochloa alpina). In the north of Europe
it was formerly strewed before church doors on saints'
days; whence the name. It is common in the northern and
western parts of the United States. Called also vanilla
grass or Seneca grass.
Holy Innocents' day, Childermas day.
Holy Land, Palestine, the birthplace of Christianity.
Holy office, the Inquisition.
Holy of holies (Script.), the innermost apartment of the
Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and
where no person entered, except the high priest once a
year.
Holy One.
(a) The Supreme Being; -- so called by way of emphasis. "
The Holy One of Israel." --Is. xliii. 14.
(b) One separated to the service of God.
Holy orders. See Order.
Holy rood, the cross or crucifix, particularly one placed,
in churches. over the entrance to the chancel.
Holy rope, a plant, the hemp agrimony.
Holy Saturday (Eccl.), the Saturday immediately preceding
the festival of Easter; the vigil of Easter.
Holy Spirit, same as Holy Ghost (above).
Holy Spirit plant. See Dove plant.
Holy thistle (Bot.), the blessed thistle. See under
Thistle.
Holy Thursday. (Eccl.)
(a) (Episcopal Ch.) Ascension day.
(b) (R. C. Ch.) The Thursday in Holy Week; Maundy
Thursday.
Holy war, a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians
against the Saracens in the Holy Land, in the eleventh,
twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, for the possession of
the holy places.
Holy water (Gr. & R. C. Churches), water which has been
blessed by the priest for sacred purposes.
Holy-water stoup, the stone stoup or font placed near the
entrance of a church, as a receptacle for holy water.
Holy Week (Eccl.), the week before Easter, in which the
passion of our Savior is commemorated.
Holy writ, the sacred Scriptures. " Word of holy writ."
--Wordsworth.
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