communion

[kuh-myoon-yuh n] /kəˈmyun yən/
noun
1.
(often initial capital letter). Also called Holy Communion. Ecclesiastical.
  1. the act of receiving the Eucharistic elements.
  2. the elements of the Eucharist.
  3. the celebration of the Eucharist.
  4. the antiphon sung at a Eucharistic service.
2.
a group of persons having a common religious faith; a religious denomination:
Anglican communion.
3.
association; fellowship.
4.
interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication:
communion with nature.
5.
the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation.
6.
the state of things so held.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin commūniōn- (stem of commūniō) a sharing, equivalent to commūn(is) common + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
communionable, adjective
communional, adjective
self-communion, noun
Examples from the web for communion
  • No specific edition of the prayer book is therefore binding for the entire communion.
  • The first of these two aspects of the sacrament is also called holy communion.
British Dictionary definitions for communion

communion

/kəˈmjuːnjən/
noun
1.
an exchange of thoughts, emotions, etc
2.
possession or sharing in common; participation
3.
(foll by with) strong emotional or spiritual feelings (for): communion with nature
4.
a religious group or denomination having a common body of beliefs, doctrines, and practices
5.
the spiritual union held by Christians to exist between individual Christians and Christ, their Church, or their fellow Christians
Derived Forms
communional, adjective
communionally, adverb
Word Origin
C14: from Latin commūniō general participation, from commūniscommon

Communion

/kəˈmjuːnjən/
noun (Christianity)
1.
the act of participating in the Eucharist
2.
the celebration of the Eucharist, esp the part of the service during which the consecrated elements are received
3.
  1. the consecrated elements of the Eucharist
  2. (as modifier): Communion cup
Abbreviation Holy Communion
Word Origin and History for communion
n.

late 14c., from Old French comunion "community, communion" (12c.), from Latin communionem (nominative communio) "fellowship, mutual participation, a sharing," used in Late Latin ecclesiastical language for "participation in the sacrament," from communis (see common (adj.)). Used by Augustine, in belief that the word was derived from com- "with, together" + unus "oneness, union."

communion in Culture

Communion definition


A sacrament of Christianity. In a reenactment of the Last Supper, the words of Jesus — “This is my body” and “This is my blood” — are spoken over bread and wine (the elements of Communion), which are then shared by the worshipers. Communion, also known as the Eucharist, commemorates the death of Jesus. (See transubstantiation.)

communion in the Bible

fellowship with God (Gen. 18:17-33; Ex. 33:9-11; Num. 12:7, 8), between Christ and his people (John 14:23), by the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1), of believers with one another (Eph. 4:1-6). The Lord's Supper is so called (1 Cor. 10:16, 17), because in it there is fellowship between Christ and his disciples, and of the disciples with one another.