Adjacent Words

Guild definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GUILD, n. gild. In England, a society, fraternity or company, associated for some purpose, particularly for carrying on commerce. The merchant-guilds of our ancestors, answer to our modern corporations. They were licensed by the king, and governed by laws and orders of their own. Hence the name Guild-hall, the great court of judicature in London.
GUID'ABLE, a. Liable to a tax.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a formal association of people with similar interests; "he joined a golf club"; "they formed a small lunch society"; "men from the fraternal order will staff the soup kitchen today" [syn: club, social club, society, guild, gild, lodge, order]

Merriam Webster's

also gild noun Etymology: Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild — more at geld Date: 14th century 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> • guildship noun

Britannica Concise

Association of craftsmen or merchants formed for mutual aid and for the advancement of their professional interests. Guilds flourished in Europe between the 11th and 16th cent. and were of two types: merchant guilds, incl. all the merchants of a particular town or city; and craft guilds, incl. all the craftsmen in a particular branch of industry (e.g., weavers, painters, goldsmiths). Their functions included establishing trade monopolies, setting standards for quality of goods, maintaining stable prices, and gaining leverage in local governments in order to further the interests of the guild. Craft guilds also established hierarchies of craftsmen based on level of training (e.g., masters, journeymen, and apprentices).

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also gild) 1 an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal. 2 a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants. Etymology: ME prob. f. MLG, MDu. gilde f. Gmc: rel. to OE gild payment, sacrifice

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Guild Guild, n. [OE. gilds, AS. gild, gield, geld, tribute, a society or company where payment was made for its charge and support, fr. AS. gildan, gieldan, to pay. See Yield, v. t.] 1. An association of men belonging to the same class, or engaged in kindred pursuits, formed for mutual aid and protection; a business fraternity or corporation; as, the Stationers' Guild; the Ironmongers' Guild. They were originally licensed by the government, and endowed with special privileges and authority. 2. A guildhall. [Obs.] --Spenser. 3. A religious association or society, organized for charitable purposes or for assistance in parish work.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(guilds) A guild is an organization of people who do the same job. ...the Writers' Guild of America. N-COUNT: oft in names, N of n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Fraternity, association, society, company, corporation, corporate body, joint concern (of craftsmen or tradesmen having like vocations).