guild

guild

noun \ˈgild\

Definition of GUILD

1

: an association of people with similar interests or pursuits; especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen

2

: a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way <a feeding guild>

— guild·ship \ˈgil(d)-ˌship\ noun

Variants of GUILD

guild also gild \ˈgild\

Examples of GUILD

1. <after his apprenticeship, he was able to join the stonemasons' guild>

Origin of GUILD

Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild — more at geld

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GUILD

Synonyms: board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, association (also gild), institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality

Related Words: collective, commune, community, cooperative; alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership; body, cadre, group; circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch (also klatsch), lot, set; crew, outfit, party, squad, team; branch, chapter, local; faithful, fold, membership; sisterhood, sorority; cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy; band, gang, ring; cartel, combine, syndicate

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Rhymes with GUILD

build, dilled, gild, gilled, skilled, twilled, willed