Chap"ter (?), n. [OF.
chapitre, F. chapitre, fr. L. capitulum,
dim. of caput head, the chief person or thing, the
principal division of a writing, chapter. See Chief, and
cf, Chapiter.] 1. A division of a
book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty
chapters.
2. (Eccl.) (a) An
assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen
connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or
of a diocese, usually presided over by the
dean.(b) A community of canons or
canonesses.(c) A bishop's
council.(d) A business meeting of any
religious community.
3. An organized branch of some society or
fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.
4. A meeting of certain organized
societies or orders.
5. A chapter house. [R.]
Burrill.
6. A decretal epistle.
Ayliffe.
7. A location or compartment.
In his bosom! In what chapter of his
bosom?
Shak.
Chapter head, or Chapter
heading, that which stands at the head of a
chapter, as a title. -- Chapter house,
a house or room where a chapter meets, esp. a cathedral
chapter. -- The chapter of accidents,
chance. Marryat.
Chap"ter (?), v. t.
1. To divide into chapters, as a book.
Fuller.
2. To correct; to bring to book, i.
e., to demand chapter and verse. [Obs.]
Dryden.