Church

n. building in which Christians meet to worship; public worship; members of a religious denomination; denomination; leaders of a religious body; organized religion

v. take to church; conduct a special service (in thanks for the safe delivery of a child)

adj. of or pertaining to church

A church is an association of people who share a particular belief system. The term church originated from Greek "κυριακή" - "kyriake", meaning "of the lord". The term later began to replace the Greek ekklesia and basilica within Christendom, c. AD 300, though it was used by Christians before that time.
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Noun
1. one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
(synonym) Christian church
(hypernym) religion, faith
(hyponym) Armenian Church, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church
(part-holonym) Christendom, Christianity
(member-meronym) Christian
2. a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"
(synonym) church building
(hypernym) place of worship, house of prayer, house of God, house of worship
(hyponym) abbey
(part-meronym) amen corner
(classification) church service
3. a service conducted in a church; "don't be late for church"
(synonym) church service
(hypernym) service, religious service, divine service
(class) official
4. the body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church; "our church is hosting a picnic next week"
(hypernym) body
(part-holonym) Christendom, Christianity
Verb
1. perform a special church rite or service for; "church a woman after childbirth"
(hypernym) perform
(derivation) church building

(v. t.)
To bless according to a prescribed form, or to unite with in publicly returning thanks in church, as after deliverance from the dangers of childbirth; as, the churching of women.
  

(n.)
The collective body of Christians.
  

(n.)
The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil.
  

(n.)
Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm.
  

(n.)
A Jewish or heathen temple.
  

(n.)
A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together.
  

(n.)
A building set apart for Christian worship.
  

(n.)
A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.
  

The influence of the church over the knights and the conception of chivalry is far more complicated than can be covered in a simple definition. Originally rough warriors, the milites were viewed as a danger to the local populace, who they frequently overran in their petty disputes and tourneys . The church preferred that the soldier's energy be put to holy use-soldiers of Christ defending the church with the sword even as the clergy defended the church with their minds and books. Although the church did affect the conception of ethical behavior for knights, adding the virtues of humility, defense of the weak and of women, piety, faith and chastity to the chivalric ethic. By preaching the Crusades at the Council of Claremont , the church did succeed in firing up the chivalry, many of whom were unemployed, with an energy and a common enemy, thus diverting their attention from factional disputes within Europe. Out of the Crusades came contact with the Eastern ways of life and organizations of religious knights organizing themselves along the lines of a sort of military monastaries, the Templars and Hospitallers . 

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