As*sem"bly (?), n.; pl.
Assemblies (?). [F. assemblée, fr.
assembler. See Assemble.] 1. A company
of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common
purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social
entertainment.
2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.]
Howell.
3. (Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the
bugle as a signal to troops to assemble.
☞ In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular
branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General
Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is
the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling
elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland.
Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble,
especially for dancing. -- Unlawful assembly
(Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in
such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the
peace tumultuously. -- Westminster Assembly, a
convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament,
assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the
"Confession of Faith," the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism,"
which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are
substantially accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn. -- See Assemblage.