Synod

Forms: 4–6 sinod, 4–7 synode, (6 senod), 6–7 sinode, 4– synod. [ad. late L. synodus, a. Gr. σύνοδος assembly, meeting, astronomical conjunction, f. σύν SYN- + ὁδός way, travel; reinforced later by F. synode (16th c.). (Cf. It., Sp. sinodo, Pg. synodo.) L. synodus was taken into OE. as seonoþ, sionoþ, sinoþ, synoþ; Layamon’s sinað (25338) may represent contamination of the OE. word with OF. senat SENATE. See also SENE.]

  1.  Eccl. An assembly of the clergy of a particular church, nation, province, or diocese (sometimes with representatives of the laity) duly convened for discussing and deciding ecclesiastical affairs. † In early use freq. applied to general councils.

  Formerly also, an episcopal or archidiaconal visitation (cf. SYNODAL B. 2).

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 41. In þis counsail and synod was þe pope Victor. Ibid., 231. Þe þridde greet synode [v.r. sinod] of þre hondred bisshoppes was i-made at Ephisus.

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., ii. 24. In that synode [of bishops and abbots at Rome] for the grete holynes of charles The pope … gaf hym power for to ordeyne bisshoppes & archebisshops.

1528.  [see SYNODAL a. 1].

1545.  Act 37 Hen. VIII., c. 17. The Bishopp of Rome and his adherentes … have in their counsailes & synodes provinciall made … and decreed diverse ordynances.

1553.  Becon, Reliques of Rome (1563), 213. It was decreed at y^e councell of Nice y^t euery byshop, shoulde twice yearelye haue a Synode or Sene general within hys diocesse.

1591.  Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 8. The two Provinciall Synodes of Canterburie and Yorke.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VIII. v. § 2. Before Emperours became Christians, the Church had never any generall Synod.

1661.  J. Stephens, Procurations, 66. Of Synods there are found sundry kinds, Oecumenical, National, Provincial, and Diocesan.

1677.  Rector’s Bk. Clayworth (1910), 30. By order from my Ld. ArchBp I preachd this day to y^e Synod at Southwell.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 July 1641. A stately senate-house, wherein was holden that famous Synod against the Arminians in 1618.

1768.  Maclaine, trans. Mosheim’s Eccl. Hist., Cent. XVII. II. I. ii. § 5. IV. 409. [Peter I. of Russia] declared himself the supreme pontif and head of the Russian church. The functions of this high and important office were entrusted with a council assembled at Petersburg,… called the Holy Synod.

1776.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xv. (1782), I. 586. Towards the end of the second century, the churches of Greece and Asia adopted the useful institutions of provincial synods.

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 17. Bringing him to … trial before a synod of bishops for his flagrant infraction of the canon law.

1845.  S. Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 525. In the year 1533 a provincial synod was established in Strasburg, which included various secular elements, together with the spiritual.

1869.  Act 32 & 33 Vict., c. 42 § 19. Nothing in any Act … shall prevent the bishops, the clergy, and laity of the said [Irish] Church … from meeting in general synod or convention, and in such synod or convention framing constitutions … for the general management … of the said Church.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., i. § 3. 30. It was the ecclesiastical synods which by their example led the way to our national parliaments.

  b.  In Presbyterian Churches: A body or assembly of ministers and other elders, constituting the ecclesiastical court next above the presbytery (see PRESBYTERY 4), and consisting of the members of, or of delegates from, the presbyteries within its bounds.

1593.  Abp. Bancroft, Dangerous Posit., III. xiii. 109. Assemblies are eyther Classes, or Synods. Ibid., 110. A Synode is an assembly of chosen men, from moe Churches, then those that be in one Classis, or conference.

1645.  Pagitt, Heresiogr., 76. The Independents … teach that everie particular Congregation ought to be governed by its owne particular Lawes,… without obligation [to] acknowledge Classes or Synods for its government and conduct.

a. 1658.  Cleveland, Mixt Assembly, 1. Flea-bitten Synod, an Assembly … like the rude Chaos of Presbyt’ry, where Laymen guide With the tame Wool-pack Clergy by their side.

1753.  Scots Mag., XV. 85/1. A provincial synod is a court consisting of all the ministers of a particular number of presbyteries, and one elder chosen … from each session. They … judge in all … appeals from the presbyteries.

1852.  Earp, Gold Col. Australia, 79. The Presbyterian Church is under the government of the Synod of Australia, and is divided as follows:—Presbytery of Sydney,… Presbytery of Windsor,… Presbytery of Campbelltown,… Presbytery of Maitland.

  2.  gen. and transf. An assembly, convention, or council of any kind. Also fig.

1578.  H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 132. The Councell and Sinode of our Genterie.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 315. A shamelesse Sinod of three thousand greedy caterpillers.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., V. ii. 74. The glorious Gods sit in hourely Synod about thy particular prosperity.

a. 1649.  Crashaw, Carmen Deo Nostro, Wks. (1904), 197. An universall Synod of All sweets.

1718.  Pope, Iliad, XIII. 662. On golden clouds th’ immortal synod sat.

1763.  Johnson, in Boswell, Life. Sir, we could not have had a better dinner, had there been a Synod of Cooks.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 40. It was not in the power of Jeffreys to overawe a synod of peers as he had been in the habit of overawing common juries.

  † 3.  Astrol. A conjunction of two planets or heavenly bodies. Obs.

1646.  Crashaw, Steps to Temple, Love’s Horoscope, 18. How e’re Loves native houres were set, What ever starry Synod met.

1651.  Culpepper, Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658), 30. A Conjunction or Synod … cannot properly be called an aspect.

1661.  Boyle, Certain Physiol. Ess. (1669), 30. The Planets … have (according to Astrologers) in their great Synods or Conjunctions, much more powerful … Influences … than are ascrib’d to one or two of them out of that Aspect.

1686.  Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. xii. 329. We speak of Aspects, Synods, and Schematismes, for advantage of Influence Caelestial, and observe, that even they want their Vigour when they want their Friends about them.

  4.  attrib.: † synod house (cf. sense 3, and HOUSE sb. 8 b); synod-man, a member of a synod.

1589.  Greene, Tullies Love, Wks. (Grosart), VII. 201. To vnite those loues that Venus in hir Sinod house hath expreslie countercheckt.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. III. 1298. For Bears and Dogs on four Legs go, As Beasts, but Synod-men on Two.