Search the Dictionary

A formal conference on public affairs; a general council; esp., an assembly of representatives of a nation or people having authority to make laws. They made request that it might be lawful for them to summon a parliament of Gauls. Golding.

An assembly or clique of pedants. [Obs.] Milton.

A public court or assembly in the Middle Ages, over which the sovereign president when a consultation was held upon affairs of state. Brande & C.

Hence: Any assembly characterized by noise and confusion; a noisy frolic or gathering. [Colloq. U. S.]

An assembly, especially of person of rank or nobility; noble company. Odmar, of all this presence does contain, Give her your wreath whom you esteem most fair. Dryden.

s fixed on a tablet for public inspection previously to its being proposed to the general assembly of the people.

ly; undoubtedly; unquestionably. -- Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration.

Specifically: A formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly, adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the resolutions of a public meeting.

A place to which one betakes himself habitually; a place of frequent assembly; a haunt. Far from all resort of mirth. Milton.

The decision or determination of a council or deliberative assembly; a resolve; a decree. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpet's regal sound the great result. Milton.

rsons who have been separated, as of a family, or the members of a disbanded regiment; an assembly so composed.

A rabble; a riotous assembly; a mob. [Obs.]

sion. -- Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with the Right on political questions. See Center, n., 5. -- Right cone, Right cylinder, Right prism, Right pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the axis of which is perpendicular to…

The tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by an unlawful assembly of three or more persons in the execution of some private object. To run riot, to act wantonly or without restraint.

Partaking of the nature of an unlawful assembly or its acts; seditious. -- Ri"ot*ous*ly, adv. -- Ri"ot*ous*ness, n.

An assembly; a group; a circle; as, a round of politicians. Addison.

A troop; a throng; a company; an assembly; especially, a traveling company or throng. [Obs.] "A route of ratones [rats]." Piers Plowman. "A great solemn route." Chaucer. And ever he rode the hinderest of the route. Chaucer. A rout of people there assembled were. Spenser.

A private circle or assembly at a private house; a circle. [Obs.] Dryden.

In mediæval demonology, the nocturnal assembly in which demons and sorcerers were thought to celebrate their orgies.

An assembly or council having the highest deliberative and legislative functions. Specifically: (a) (Anc. Rom.)