The English word (from the French ''chapître'', itself from the Latin ''capitulum'', Diminutive of ''caput'', meaning ''head'' but also ''heading'') has multiple meanings. In general, the word indicates a division or a distinct body of some type. Also, the various meanings may be translated by two or more different words in some languages, such as words of different etymology.
- A Chapter is one of the main divisions of a piece of writing of relative length, such as a Book .
- --- In legal texts, a chapter is a technical notion, referring to a formal division, irrespective of actual length, grouping articles that belong together by subject and can thus be referred to as a whole.
- --- By analogy, a chapter is also distinct period of time or order of events, as in History or in a person's life. For example, the American Civil War could be called a ''chapter'' in American history, just as the years a person spent in College , for example, could be called a ''chapter'' in his or her life. ''See also'' Periodization .
- For the religious meanings of ''chapter'', ''see'' Chapter .
- --- In many Christian Monastic communities, a chapter is a daily or occasional formal meeting of the community, usually to conduct practical business, as opposed to a meeting for Worship .
- --- It is also the name of various precise bodies, such as the canons advising a bishop.
- A chapter also applies to the military orders of knighthood.
- By analogy with the last-mentioned, a chapter is a local branch of various Secular organizations, such as a Fraternity or Sorority , or Alumni group (often per campus), Charity or service organization, or other Club . For example, the Sierra Club , a North America n Environmental Protection organization, maintains more than 60 chapters across the United States .
- Chapters is a large Bookstore chain in Canada .
- Chapter Arts Centre is a cultural centre in Cardiff , Wales .
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