'Ecumenical council' definitions:

Definition of 'ecumenical council'

(from WordNet)
noun
(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"

Definition of 'Ecumenical council'

From: GCIDE
  • 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.] [1913 Webster]
  • Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes.
  • Ecumenical council. See under Council. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ecumenical council'

From: GCIDE
  • 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.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council. [1913 Webster]
  • An old lord of the council rated me the other day. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation. [1913 Webster]
  • Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • O great in action and in council wise. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]