Main Entry:

chap·ter

Pronunciation:

\ˈchap-tər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English chapitre, from Anglo-French chapitre, chapitle, from Late Latin capitulum division of a book & Medieval Latin, meeting place of canons, from Latin, diminutive of capit-, caput head — more at head

Date:

13th century

1 a: a main division of a book b: something resembling a chapter in being a significant specified unit <a new chapter in my life>2 a: a regular meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a religious house b: the body of canons of a cathedral or collegiate church3: a local branch of an organization