Added 1 October 2026
congress
/ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/ noun
Latin root: congress Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about congress at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The legislature of the United States government.
- A meeting of elected or appointed representatives.
- A national legislative assembly.
Origin
From Latin congress(um), the past participle of congredior (“to go, come together”), itself from con- + gradior (“to go, step”). The verb is from the noun. Compare typologically coven, convent, convention, omitting several steps, from con- + veniō, Russian сход (sxod), схо́дка (sxódka), akin to сходи́ться (sxodítʹsja), ходи́ть (xodítʹ). Also compare Czech sjezd, Russian съезд (sʺjezd), akin to съезжа́ться (sʺjezžátʹsja), е́здить (jézditʹ). Also compare conference.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)