Forms: 3 cheapitre, 3–5 chapitre, 4 chapitere, chaptire, 4–6 Sc. chaptour, 4–8 chapiter, 5 chapytur(e, chappytre, chapiltre, chaptur, 5–6 chapytre, 6 chapyter, chapytour, chapitour, chapiture, ? chapit, Sc. cheptour, 6– chapter. [A later syncopated form of CHAPITER, a. OF. chapitre, earlier chapitle:—L. capitulum, dim. of caput head, used, in ancient Latin, in the senses ‘little head, head of a plant, capital of a column,’ and later, those of ‘head-dress of women, chapter of a book, section of a law.’ The form chapter appears in Sc. in 14th c., but in Eng. is rare before the 16th; chapiter survived beside it till the middle of the 17th, and is still occasional in the sense ‘capital of a column.’ Cf. also CAPITULUM, CAPITLE, CHAPITLE, CHAPITER, all orig. the same word.]
1. A main division or section of a book (whether the latter is an entire literary work, or one of the divisions or parts of a large work). Esp. used of the main divisions of the books of the Bible. Cf. BOOK sb. 7.
[a. 1000–1450. see CAPITLE, CHAPITLE.]
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 14. Þeos boc ich to dele on eihte distinctiuns … I þisse distinctiun beoð fif cheapitres.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nonne Pr. T., 245. In the same book … Right in the nexte chapitre after this.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R. (W. de W.), I. 9. The chapytours of euery of thyse bokes folowyng.
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 113. In the book of Deutronomye, the seven and twenty chapitre.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 15. In the last chapyter of his epystle to the Galathees.
1535. Coverdale, Gen., The first boke of Moses … The first chapter.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 51. Sainct agustyne … in the ix cheptour of his seuynt beuk.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. i. (1588), 124. In the next Chapiter of this Booke.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrimes, II. 1502. In his Chapiter, Surato-Wagra … he bids them marry one, two, three or foure wives a man.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 13, ¶ 10. Unable to read a chapter in the bible.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 243. The preceding sections of this chapter.
b. fig.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 242. Ol. Where lies your Text? Vio. In Orsinoes bosome. Ol. In his bosome? In what chapter of his bosome?
1661. Earl Orrery, State Lett. (1743), I. 59. It is like the bills of mountebanks, where the contents promise more than in the chapter is made good.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 29. 317. Their [the Prophets’] lives constitute some of the noblest chapters of Jewish Chronicles.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Wealth, Wks. (Bohn), II. 70. ’Tis a curious chapter in modern history, the growth of the machine-shop.
c. A head or division of the Acts of Parliament of a single session.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 192. First we have granted to God, and by this our present Chapter have confirmed for us and our heirs for ever, that the Church of England shall be free.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. iv. 20. The Acts of each session were not divided into chapters with distinct titles.
2. fig. Head, heading, subject, category. (Usually preceded by on, upon.) arch.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 192. Avarice, In whose chapitre now we trete.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 51. Prestis are nowe in þe same chapiter.
1681. Temple, Mem., III. Wks. 1731, I. 342. Upon which Chapter I said a good deal.
1766. H. Walpole, Lett., III. 150. There are some chapters on which I still fear we shall not agree.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., III. VIII. v. 39. Must lead a life clear of reproach; and more particularly on the chapter of women!
3. A short ‘lesson’ or passage of Scripture read in certain services of the Latin Church. (In med.L. capitulum; F. chapitre and capitule.)
Also b. ‘An anthem in the Ambrosian rite said at Lauds after the psalms and before the antiphon, and varying with the day.’ Dict. Chr. Antiq.
[c. 1200. Winteney Rule S. Benet (1888), 45. Æfter þam filye þæt captel of þare apostele lare, þæt beo ȝesed butan bocc. 55. On non þri capitles syn ȝesungene of þam forseadan sealme.]
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 126. A chapyter ys as moche to say as a lytel hed … yt ys alway taken of holy scripture, and often of the pystel that is redde in the masse the same daye. Ibid., 232. As ys writen before … in the chapiter at lawdes.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 21. When the chaptur was ronge as the tyme requyred to calle the couent to matens, he went than to chirche as he did the daye before.
1875. Dict. Chr. Antiq., I. 288/1. The ‘little chapter,’ said at all the canonical hours excepting Matins, after the psalms … consists of one or two verses of Scripture, usually taken from the Epistles … often from the Prophets, and occasionally from other parts of Scripture. It is recited by the officiating priest, standing.
4. A duly constituted general meeting or assembly of the canons of a collegiate or cathedral church, of the members of any monastic or religious order, or of an order of knights, for consultation and transaction of the affairs of their order.)
[‘From the last-mentioned usage (the capitula of a monastic rule) coupled with the practice of reading a capitulum or chapter of the Rule, or (as was St. Augustine’s practice) of the Scriptures, to the assembled canons or monks, the assembled canons or monks themselves came to be called in a body the capitulum or chapter, and their meeting-place the chapter-house.’ Dict. Chr. Antiq., I. 288/1; cf. Du Cange and Littré. More exactly the name chapter was first transferred to the meeting, and then to those who met. The transference was easy through such expressions as ire or convenire ad capitulum, to go to (the reading of) the capitle or chapter, thus to the meeting.]
[1123–1456. see CHAPITLE.]
c. 1305. St. Edmund, 435, in E. E. P. (1862), 82. Þe chapitre of salesbury amorwe was plener; Alle þe Canouns of þe queor þer come fur & ner, To consailli him of þisse þinge.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 589. That bargane callit wass The chaptour of mytoune; for thare Slayn sa mony prestis ware.
138[?]. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 43. Þe chesynge of his successour be maad of mynistris prouincial & custodis in þe chapitre of witsontide.
1562. Leigh, Armorie (1597), 77. He ordained that al the kings of armes, should keepe their Chapiters once euery quarter of the yere.
1679. Prance, Narr. Pop. Plot, 36. There being a Chapter (as they call it, that is, a General Convention) of Friars held in Somerset House.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1606/4. This morning was held a Chapter of the most Noble Order of the Garter. Ibid. (1707), No. 4300/2. The King of Prussia held a Chapter of the Order of the Black Eagle.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The establishment of general chapters of religious orders is owing to the Cistercians, who held the first in 1116.
1808. Scott, Marm., II. iv. To hold A chapter of St. Benedict, For inquisition stern and strict.
† b. As the court for the trial and discipline of offences against ecclesiastical law. Obs.
a. 1300. Siriz, 243 (Mätz.). For al the world ne wold I nout That ich were to chapitre ibrout.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Friar’s T., 61. He wolde … somne hem to the Chapitre.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 199. The word Chapter … sometimes … denotes the Place, where Delinquents receive Discipline and Correction according to the Orders of the Church.
† c. The place in which the chapter meets; = CHAPTER-HOUSE. Obs.
[c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 237. In oure chapitre pray we day and night.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 242/1. He called hys bretheren in to the chappytre.]
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 199. The word Chapter is sometimes put to signify the Place where Collegiate Persons or Bodies Politick Ecclesiastical do usually meet.
5. The members of such assembly collectively as a permanent body: esp. The body of canons of a collegiate or cathedral church, presided over by the dean.
Of a cathedral.—1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 22 § 3. And confermed by the Chapiltre of the Cathedrall Churche.
1523. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 9. The Deane and Chapiter … of the free chapell of the kynge, of Sainct Martins le graunde.
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xlvi. 142. In the name of the whole chapter they have appealed unto th’ Arches.
1628. Coke, On Litt., I. 95.
1641. R. Brooke, Eng. Episc., 11. A Cloistered Chapiter, among which are usually the very dregges or lowest men.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. I. ii. 297. The dean and chapter are … the nominal electors of a bishop.
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., 115. A body of clergy both to assist and counsel the Bishop and to serve the church itself … the Chapter as it is called.
Of Knights.—1842. Penny Cycl., XXIV. 180/1. The Master [of the Knights Templars] … was elected by the Chapter, or general body of the Knights…. The head province was that of Jerusalem; the affairs of the order … were for the most part directed by the chapter of this province.
6. (See quot.)
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 199. The word Chapter is sometimes … used to signify a Decretal Epistle.
7. = CAPITULATION 3 b, c.
1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, I. ii. 105. With many ceremonies and courtly rites the ‘chapters,’ or preliminaries of the combat, are arranged.
8. Clockmaking. [From the use of Roman numerals to mark chapters of the Bible, etc.] (See quot.)
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 50. [The] Chapters … [are] the Roman characters used generally to mark the hours in watch and clock dials.
† 9. Arch. The capital of a column: for this the fuller form CHAPITER is now used. Obs.
10. Phrases.
† a. A hard chapter: a painful lesson or experience, ‘hard lines.’ Obs.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 146. I dare say it was a hard Chapter that then he did read unto them.
1699. Frampton, in Life of Ken (1854), 766 (D.). An hard chapter you’ll say, for me.
1696. Phillips, s.v., We say ’tis a hard Chapter when a man suffers undeservedly. And by way of reproof, we say, he read him a Chapter in Job.
1721–33. Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. I. x. 91. Lady Jane … had a very hard chapter to be set up to be queen, even against her will … and soon after adjudged to be executed for being queen.
1725. Bailey, Erasm. Colloq. (1877), 209 (D.). Necessity is a hard chapter.
b. Chapter and verse: the exact reference to a passage of Scripture; fig. exact authority for.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., xliii. (Arb.), 63. Turning downe the leafe in her Booke when shee heares nam’d Chapter and Verse.
1711. Vind. Sacheverell, 71. Here is an ugly Story with Chapter and Verse.
1862. Thackeray, Philip, II. xiii. She can give chapter and verse for her belief.
1870. J. A. Picton, New The. & Old Faith, iv. 112. The early Fathers did not care nearly so much about chapter and verse.
c. To the end of the chapter: (fig.) through the whole of the subject; to the end, throughout.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, 363 (J.). And so forward, Mutatis Mutandis, to the End of the Chapter.
1843. Haliburton, Sam Slick Eng., ii. (Hoppe). You always was a fool, and always will be to the end of the chapter.
1881. Saintsbury, Dryden, 30. Questions on which doctors will doubtless disagree to the end of the chapter.
d. The chapter of accidents: the unforeseen course of events. So the chapter of possibilities. (Cf. 2.)
1769. Mrs. Brooke, Emily Montague (1784), II. lv. 2. Not having supposed her refusal to be in the chapter of possibilities.
a. 1773. Beauties of Chesterfield, 46 (Hoppe). Consider how propitious the chapter of accidents is to them.
1817. Keatinge, Trav., I. 160. Leaving every thing to the day and the chapter of accidents.
1871. [see ACCIDENT 1.]
1880. Huxley, Cray-Fish, iii. 110. It will … trust to the chapter of accidents to turn over as it darts back.
Mod. Story. The chapter of accidents was not yet complete.
11. Comb. as chapter-heading, -room; chapter-bread (see quot.); chapter-lands, lands belonging to a chapter (sense 5); chapter-quest, an inquest or inquiry held by an ecclesiastical chapter. Also CHAPTER-HOUSE, q.v.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, V. xxi. 717. Such is the white bread which is sold of the bakers, and *chapter bread: as also that which is well leuened, knodden, somewhat salt, somewhat hollow, and well risen, like vnto court bread.
1876. L. Campbell, in Contemp. Rev., June, 107. With regard to the *chapter-headings.
c. 1577. Canon, in Mill, Manx Ord. & Stat. Laws (1821), 53. All those which are suspected of Sorcerrie … and are presented by the *Chapter-Quest.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 277. The *chapter-room of the bishop’s palace.
1727. Swift, To Earl of Oxford. Suppose him [the new dean] gone through all vexations … First-fruits, and tenths, and *chapter-treats.
