Synagogs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A place of assembly for Jewish worship, where rituals and prayer gatherings occur
2. A community center for Jewish education and religious practices, often including functions for social gathering
3. A structure that serves as a house of worship within the Jewish faith, facilitating communal prayer and religious events

Etymology: "Synagogs" is the plural of "synagog," an alternate spelling of "synagogue." The singular form is the one that matters here, since the plural simply follows from it. "Synagogue" comes ultimately from Greek "synagōgē," literally "a bringing together" or "assembly," built from "syn-" meaning "together" and "agein" meaning "to lead" or "bring." The Greek word was used for gatherings of people, and it was later applied to the Jewish place of assembly for worship and study. The spelling "synagog," with the final "-ue" dropped, is a less common variant that follows the simpler spelling pattern of words like "catalog" and "dialog" in American usage. Both forms refer to the same institution, though "synagogue" is the standard spelling in most English writing.

Synonyms: temples, places of worship, congregations, INVALID, INVALID