lateran council
C2Formal, Academic, Historical, Religious
Definition
Meaning
Any of several ecumenical councils of the Roman Catholic Church held at the Lateran Palace in Rome.
A series of five major church councils (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215, 1512–1517) convened by the Pope, which addressed doctrinal, disciplinary, and political matters in medieval and early modern Christianity. The term can also refer more broadly to the authority and historical significance of these papal-led gatherings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun (capitalized). Refers to specific historical events. Often preceded by an ordinal number (e.g., 'First Lateran Council'). The focus is on institutional church history rather than general concepts of meetings or assemblies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and references are identical.
Connotations
Identical historical and religious connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to academic, historical, and theological contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ordinal] Lateran Council [verb, e.g., declared, condemned, established]...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, and theology papers to discuss medieval church reform and doctrine.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used precisely in Catholic theology and church history to refer to specific councils and their canons.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Lateran decrees were influential.
- He studied Lateran history.
American English
- The Lateran canons were strict.
- She is an expert in Lateran studies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Lateran Council was a meeting in Rome.
- The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 defined important church doctrines.
- Canon 21 of the Fourth Lateran Council instituted the requirement for annual confession and communion, profoundly shaping medieval religious practice.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LATER in history, the ANcient church held COUNCILs at the LATERAN palace.
Conceptual Metaphor
COUNCIL AS A LANDMARK (e.g., 'a landmark in church history').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'Lateran' as a common word; it is a proper name. 'Латеранский собор' is the correct term, not a descriptive translation like 'собор в Риме'.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('lateran council').
- Omitting the ordinal number when referring to a specific one.
- Confusing it with the Council of Trent or Vatican Councils.
Practice
Quiz
What is the Lateran Council primarily associated with?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There were five major Lateran Councils, numbered First through Fifth, held between 1123 and 1517.
No, they were specific historical events. The last one concluded in 1517.
The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) is often considered the most significant due to its sweeping reforms and doctrinal definitions.
It comes from the Lateran Palace in Rome, which was the papal residence at the time and where the councils were held.