ecumenical council
    n 1: (early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops
         from around the known world under the presidency of the
         Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and
         discipline; "the first seven councils through 787 are
         considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman
         Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the
         next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by
         the Roman Catholic church"

Council \Coun"cil\ (koun"s[i^]l), n. [F. concile, fr. L.
   concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. ??? to call,
   and E. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often
   confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]
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   1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation,
      deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for
      consultation in a critical case.
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   2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an
      advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's
      council; a city council.
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            An old lord of the council rated me the other day.
                                                  --Shak.
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   3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation.
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            Satan . . . void of rest,
            His potentates to council called by night. --Milton.
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            O great in action and in council wise. --Pope.
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   Aulic council. See under Aulic.

   Cabinet council. See under Cabinet.

   City council, the legislative branch of a city government,
      usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common
      council, but sometimes otherwise constituted.

   Common council. See under Common.

   Council board, Council table, the table round which a
      council holds consultation; also, the council itself in
      deliberation.

   Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council
      meets.

   Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the
      Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] --Bartlett.

   Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank,
      called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to
      measures or importance or nesessity.

   Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or
      divines convened from the whole body of the church to
      regulate matters of doctrine or discipline.

   Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the
      chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.]
      

   Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature,
      usually called the senate.

   Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.]

   Syn: Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament;
        convention; convocation; synod.
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Ecumenic \Ec`u*men"ic\, Ecumenical \Ec`u*men"ic*al\, a. [L.
   oecumenicus, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the inhabited world, fr. ? to
   inhabit, from o'i^kos house, dwelling. See Economy.]
   General; universal; in ecclesiastical usage, that which
   concerns the whole church; as, an ecumenical council.
   [Written also [oe]cumenical.]
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   Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes.

   Ecumenical council. See under Council.
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