Chapter C · hap"ter, n. Etym: [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.]
Reading edition
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.