chapter

[ chap-ter ]

noun

1. a main division of a book, treatise, or the like, usually bearing a number or title.
2. a branch, usually restricted to a given locality, of a society, organization, fraternity, etc.:

   the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross.

3. an important portion or division of anything:

   The atomic bomb opened a new chapter in history.

   Synonyms: phase, period, episode, era

4. Ecclesiastical.
   1. an assembly of the monks in a monastery, of those in a province, or of the entire order.
   2. a general assembly of the canons of a church.
   3. a meeting of the elected representatives of the provinces or houses of a religious community.
   4. the body of such canons or representatives collectively.
5. any general assembly.
6. Liturgy. a short scriptural quotation read at various parts of the office, as after the last psalm in the service of lauds, prime, tierce, etc.
7. Horology. any of the marks or numerals designating the hours on a dial.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into or arrange in chapters.

chapter

/ ˈtʃæptə /

noun

1. a division of a written work, esp a narrative, usually titled or numbered
2. a sequence of events having a common attribute

   a chapter of disasters

3. chapter of accidents
   chapter of accidents
   1. a series of misfortunes
   2. the unforeseeable course of events
4. an episode or period in a life, history, etc
5. a numbered reference to that part of a Parliamentary session which relates to a specified Act of Parliament
6. a branch of some societies, clubs, etc, esp of a secret society
7. the collective body or a meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a monastic or knightly order capitular
8. a general assembly of some organization
9. chapter and verse
   chapter and verse exact authority for an action or statement

verb

1. tr to divide into chapters

Other Words From

• chapter·al adjective
• un·chapter verb (used with object)
• un·chaptered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chapter¹

1175–1225; Middle English chapiter, variant of chapitre < Old French < Latin capitulum little head ( capit-, stem of caput head + -ulum -ule ); in Late Latin: section of a book; in Medieval Latin: section read at a meeting, hence, the meeting, especially one of canons, hence, a body of canons

Word History and Origins

Origin of chapter¹

C13: from Old French chapitre, from Latin capitulum, literally: little head, hence, section of writing, from caput head; in Medieval Latin: chapter of scripture or of a religious rule, a gathering for the reading of this, hence, assemblage of clergy

Example Sentences

More than 350 faculty members statewide have signed a recent petition by the state chapter of the American Association of University Professors calling for the system or individual institutions to move to fully online instruction.

From Fortune

The film chronicles Hilton’s life, including darker chapters that she hasn’t yet discussed during her two decades in the public eye.

From Fortune

It was probably Rashida Richardson and Stephanie Coyle’s chapter.

From MIT Technology Review

The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police sent no signals about a pullback, the veteran officer said.

From ProPublica

That is the focus of my work in this next chapter of my life, and the work that all of us need to do, together, to finally achieve the equality we all deserve.

From Fortune

Enforcement of U.S Code, Title VII, Chapter 25A “Export Standards for Grapes and Plums” remains fully funded, thank goodness.

From The Daily Beast

The thaw between Washington and Cuba finally begins to close a chapter of the Cold War.

From The Daily Beast

And so it goes, another chapter written in the mutually abusive relationship of bad government and bad culture.

From The Daily Beast

On Election Night, he beamed: “This is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of our city.”

From The Daily Beast

Take for instance this chapter on John Coltrane from Hentoff's wonderful book, Jazz Is.

From The Daily Beast

This is one of the most striking manifestations of the better side of child-nature and deserves a chapter to itself.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next chapter he gives his twelve disciples authority over demons.

From Project Gutenberg

In the preceding chapter an examination has been made of the purely mechanical side of the era of machine production.

From Project Gutenberg

You may read the horrible story for yourselves in the third chapter of the Second Book of Kings.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the railway mania period I have spoken in a previous chapter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affiliate
• branch
• division
• episode
• member
• phase
• stage
• unit