[ad. L. congress-us going or coming together, meeting, f. congress-, ppl. stem of congred-ī to go together: see CONGREDIENT: cf. F. congrès (congrez in Cotgr., 1611).]
1. The action of coming together (of persons); a meeting, interview.
1528. Foxe, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. xxvi. 81. After iij or iiij congresses ye see no likelihode … to relent and cesse your suit.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. IV. i. (1651), 505. They [lovers] commonly blush at their first congress.
1728. Newton, Chronol. Amended, Introd. 4. The Congress of Solon with Crœsus some think they can confute by Chronology.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, VII. ii. 254. There never was a congress of friendship wherein more was said and felt.
† b. The assembling of a society, etc. Obs.
1675. Ogilvy, Brit., Introd. 6. It is now the Place of Congress for the Royal Society.
† 2. A coming together, meeting (of things). Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 4. A mutuall Congresse, or Coarticulation of the bones.
1675. Evelyn, Terra (1729), 28. Medicinal Nitre in congress with a certain Sulphur.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 62. A fortuitous Congress of Atoms.
1759. Phil. Trans., LI. 355. Their electricity suffers no diminution from the shock of their congress.
† 3. An encounter in opposition or combat. Obs.
1646. Buck, Rich. III., I. 9. In divers hazardous congresses and battels.
1689. T. Plunket, Char. Gd. Commander, 4. Fairfix his Regiment … was near surpriz’d … Which congress they would needs an Horse-race call.
1727. Lardner, Wks. (1838), I. 98. The congress of Vitellius and Artabanus.
4. Sexual union, copulation, coition.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. (Arb.), 119. It is two strange serpents entertangled in their amorous congresse.
1737. L. Clarke, Hist. Bible (1740), I. I. 46. [They] had each of them a Son from that incestuous congress.
1765. Parsons, in Phil. Trans., LV. 47. People … expect the issue of such a marriage would be tawny; which indeed is the usual effect produced by the congress of black and white persons.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, Introd. 38. In all higher Vertebrata, the ova are impregnated by sexual congress.
5. Social intercourse, converse. † b. Bird of c.: a social or gregarious bird. Obs.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 1. Dialectick is profitable vnto Congresse.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., i. § 2. 6. All desirous of congresse, and mutuall correspondence.
1766. Phil. Trans., LVI. 209. The crane … is also a bird of congress.
1875. Grindon, Life, xxvii. 355. Genuine and lively virtues are developed only by social congress.
6. A formal meeting or assembly of delegates or representatives for the discussion or settlement of some question; spec. (in politics) of envoys, deputies, or plenipotentiaries representing sovereign states, or of sovereigns themselves, for the settlement of international affairs. Also an annual or periodical meeting or series of meetings of some association or society, or of persons engaged in special studies, as Church Congress, the name of annual meetings of the Church of England for discussion; Social Science Congress, Congress of Orientalists, etc.
1678. Phillips, Congress, is now generally taken for the Assembly or Meeting together of the Deputies, or Plenipotentiaries of several Princes, to treat about a Peace, or any other grand Affair.
1680. in Somers, Tracts, I. 105, n. The congress in Henry the Second’s Time at Clarendon.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, II. x. 359. When he was just arrived to the congress.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 529. It was agreed by the two kings, that a congress should be held at Vervins.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, Hist. Servia, 323. Deputies … had been sent to Vienna during the Congress.
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., 4. A lecture delivered at an architectural congress.
1879. M. Arnold, Pref. to Wordsworth, 21. The haunters of Social Science Congresses.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Oct., 309/2. A congress of Americanists recently assembled in Copenhagen.
† b. Assembly, congregation. Obs. rare.
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus. xvi. 13. In the Congresse Of Sinners, fire shall flame and never cease.
c. A society or organization that meets from time to time for the settlement of common concerns.
1870. L. Brentano, in E. E. Gilds, Introd. 178. From 1772 an extremely vigorous Trade-Society existed among them [hatters] … The society was called the Congress, was regulated by statutes, and framed bye-laws. All workmen of the trade belonged to it.
7. The national legislative body of the United States of America (as a continuous institution, and as a body existing for two years, after which a new ‘congress’ is elected; also the session of this body).
The Congress of the United States (commonly referred to simply as ‘Congress’), which met for the first time on 4 March 1789, was preceded by the Congress of the Confederation, representing the several states under the Articles of Confederation, from 1781 to 1789, and this again by the three so-called Continental Congresses of the revolting colonies, which met in 1774, 1775 and 1776, respectively. But the last were properly congresses in sense 6.
[1765. Massachusetts Assembly, 6 June, in Holmes, Ann. of Amer. (1829), II. 134. It is highly expedient there should be a meeting … to consider of a general Congress.
1773. S. Adams, Lett., 9 April, in Wells, Life (1865), II. 84. Should the correspondence from Virginia produce a Congress and then an assembly of States.
1773. Answ. of Mass. Ho. of Reprs., in A. Bradford, Sp. Governors Mass. (1818), 364. We should be unwilling to propose it, without their [the other colonies’] consent in Congress.]
1775. Jrnl. Continental Congress, 13 Sept. Information, being given to Congress.
1775. Col. E. Allen, in Holmes, Ann. of Amer. (1829), I. 208. I demand it [surrender of Fort Ticonderoga] in the name of the great Jehovah and of the Continental Congress.
1776. Ann. Reg., p. 261 (Decl. of Indep.). A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled (July 4).
1783. Gentl. Mag., LIII. I. 166. It is agreed, That the Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the Legislatures of the respective States, to provide [etc.].
1785. T. Jefferson, Corr. (1859), I. 349. Congress, by the Confederation, have no original and inherent power over the commerce of the States.
1789. Constit. U.S., i. § 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States. Ibid., § 4. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year. Ibid., § 5. During the session of Congress.
1850. Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 128. The member of congress for Georgia.
1874. Bancroft, Footpr. Time, vii. 229. Congress legislates, or enacts laws.
1886. U.S. Senate Manual, 72. On the 5th of March 1794, at the first session of the Third Congress.
b. The corresponding body in the republics of South and Central America.
1837. Penny Cycl., VII. 65/1. Chili, The congress is composed of a senate … and of a house of representatives, to which a deputy is sent for every 15,000 souls.
1891. Daily News, 27 April, 5/8 (War in Chili). The Congress party are now in possession of Caldera and Carrizal.
8. See CONGER 2.
9. attrib. and Comb., as Congress dollar, service; Congress boot, a high boot with elastic sides; Congress water, a mineral water from Congress Spring, Saratoga, N.Y. Also CONGRESSMAN.
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 484. The Pallas, a French Frigate … the Vengeance, an armed brig … all in Congress service.
1781. Cowper, Lett., 27 Feb. That sort of paper currency must serve, like the Congress dollars [etc.].
1865. Reader, No. 117. 337/1. A dozen of Congress-water.
1888. Pall Mall G., 6 Sept., 13/2. The only internal treatment she prescribes is congress water and a grain or two of roasted coffee.
