\Con"gress\, n.; pl. {Congresses}. [L. congressus, fr.
congredi, p. p. -gressus, to go or come together; con- +
grati to go or step, gradus step: cf. F. congr?s. See
{Grade}.]
1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an
   encounter. [Obs.]
         Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there; Their
         congress in the field great Jove withstands.
                                               --Dryden.
2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of
   things. [Obs.]
         From these laws may be deduced the rules of the
         congresses and reflections of two bodies. --Cheyne.
3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual
   commerce; the act of coition. --Pennant.
4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.
5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies,
   representatives, envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting
   of the representatives of several governments or societies
   to consider and determine matters of common interest.
         The European powers strove to . . . accommodate
         their differences at the congress of Vienna.
                                               --Alison.
6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the
   people of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the
   chief legislative body of the nation.
Note: In the Congress of the United States (which took the
      place of the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the
      Senate consists of two Senators from each State, chosen
      by the State legislature for a term of six years, in
      such a way that the terms of one third of the whole
      number expire every year; the House of Representatives
      consists of members elected by the people of the
      several Congressional districts, for a term of two
      years, the term of all ending at the same time. The
      united body of Senators and Representatives for any
      term of two years for which the whole body of
      Representatives is chosen is called one Congress. Thus
      the session which began in December, 1887, was the
      first (or long) session, and that which began in
      December, 1888, was the second (or short) session, of
      the Fiftieth Congress. When an extra session is had
      before the date of the first regular meeting of a
      Congress, that is called the first session, and the
      following regular session is called the second session.
7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of
   which are elected for three years.
{The Continental Congress}, an assembly of deputies from the
   thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to
   deliberate in respect to their common interests. They
   first met in 1774, and from time thereafter until near the
   close of the Revolution.
{The Federal Congress}, the assembly of representatives of
   the original States of the American Union, who met under
   the Articles of Confederation from 1781 till 1789.
{Congress boot} or {gaiter}, a high shoe or half-boot, coming
   above the ankle, and having the sides made in part of some
   elastic material which stretches to allow the boot to be
   drawn on and off. [U.S.]
{Congress water}, a saline mineral water from the Congress
   spring at Saratoga, in the State of New York.
Syn: Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council;
     diet; conclave; parliament; legislature.