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, ∨ 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.