ecclesia

ec·cle·si·a  (-klzh-, -z-)

n. pl. ec·cle·si·ae (-zh-, -z-)

1. The political assembly of citizens of an ancient Greek state.

2. A church or congregation.

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[Latin ecclsia, from Greek ekklsi, from ekkalein, to summon forth : ek-, out; see ecto- + kalein, kl-, to call; see kel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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ecclesia [ɪˈkliːzɪə]

n pl -siae [-zɪˌiː]

1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) (in formal Church usage) a congregation

2. (Historical Terms) the assembly of citizens of an ancient Greek state

[from Medieval Latin, from Late Greek ekklēsia assembly, from ekklētos called, from ekkalein to call out, from kalein to call]