[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

church \church\ ch^urch, n. oe. chirche, chireche, cherche,
   scot. kirk, from as. circe, cyrice; akin to d. kerk, icel.
   kirkja, sw. kyrka, dan. kirke, g. kirche, ohg. chirihha; all
   fr. gr. kyriako`n the lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning
   a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power,
   might; akin to skr. ,c=ura hero, zend. ,cura strong,
   oir. caur, cur, hero. cf. kirk.
   1913 webster
   1. a building set apart for christian worship.
      1913 webster

   2. a jewish or heathen temple. obs. --acts xix. 37.
      1913 webster

   3. a formally organized body of christian believers
      worshiping together. "when they had ordained them elders
      in every church." --acts xiv. 23.
      1913 webster

   4. a body of christian believers, holding the same creed,
      observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same
      ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the roman
      catholic church; the presbyterian church.
      1913 webster

   5. the collective body of christians.
      1913 webster

   6. any body of worshipers; as, the jewish church; the church
      of brahm.
      1913 webster

   7. the aggregate of religious influences in a community;
      ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array
      the power of the church against some moral evil.
      1913 webster

            remember that both church and state are properly the
            rulers of the people, only because they are their
            benefactors.                          --bulwer.
      1913 webster

   note: church is often used in composition to denote something
         belonging or relating to the church; as, church
         authority; church history; church member; church music,
         etc.
         1913 webster

   apostolic church. see under apostolic.

   broad church. see broad church.

   catholic church or universal church, the whole body of
      believers in christ throughout the world.

   church of england, or english church, the episcopal
      church established and endowed in england by law.

   church living, a benefice in an established church.

   church militant. see under militant.

   church owl zool., the white owl. see barn owl.

   church rate, a tax levied on parishioners for the
      maintenance of the church and its services.

   church session. see under session.

   church triumphant. see under triumphant.

   church work, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work
      of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   established church, the church maintained by the civil
      authority; a state church.
      1913 webster
see also:
kirk apostolic church apostolic broad church broad church catholic church 
universal church church of england english church church living church militant 
militant church owl barn owl church rate church session 
session church triumphant triumphant church work established church 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

established church
     n : the church that is recognized as the official church of a
         nation

Established >> E Words
Established, definition of term: Established
established_pag1.html

Church >> C Words
Church, definition of term: Church
church_pag1.html

Church Militant >> C Words
Church Militant, definition of term: Church Militant
church+militant_pag1.html

Church Music >> C Words
Church Music, definition of term: Church Music
church+music_pag1.html

Church Key >> C Words
Church Key, definition of term: Church Key
church+key_pag1.html

Falls Church >> F Words
Falls Church, definition of term: Falls Church
falls+church_pag1.html

Coptic Church >> C Words
Coptic Church, definition of term: Coptic Church
coptic+church_pag1.html

Orthodox Church >> O Words
Orthodox Church, definition of term: Orthodox Church
orthodox+church_pag1.html

Baptist Church >> B Words
Baptist Church, definition of term: Baptist Church
baptist+church_pag1.html

Lutheran Church >> L Words
Lutheran Church, definition of term: Lutheran Church
lutheran+church_pag1.html

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