To communicate: especially in the sacrament. Obs. in England.
1821. [Roger Williams] taught, that it was not lawful for a pious man to commune in family prayer, or in taking an oath, with persons, whom he judged to be unregenerate.—T. Dwight, ‘Travels,’ i. 142.
1823. To-morrow I propose administering the sacrament—do you commune, my young friend?—J. F. Cooper, ‘The Pioneers,’ i. xii.
1826. The members that communed, were from different states and countries. Each professor seemed pertinaciously to exact, that the peculiar usages of his church should be adopted.—T. Flint, ‘Recollections,’ p. 112.
1836. And yet, the true Christian does pray, does commune. He does not fly in the face of the divine will, because he cannot obey with the perfection of a sinless being.—Dr. G. T. Chapman, ‘Sermons to Presbyterians of all Sects,’ p. 116 (Hartford, Ct.).
1845. I [Bishop Southgate] therefore communed with my Congregational brethren.—Knick. Mag., xxv. 178 (Feb.).
1856. ‘For my part,’ said Abijah, rather grimly, ‘if things were managed my way, I shouldn’t commune with nobody that didn’t believe in election, “up to the hub.”’—H. B. Stowe, ‘Dred,’ chap. xxiii.
