Chapter Chap"ter, n. Etym: [of. chapitre, F. chapitre, fr. L. capitulum, dim. of caput head, the chief person or thing, the principal division of a writing, chapter. See Chief, and cf, Chapiter.]

1. A division of a book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty chapters.

2. (Eccl.) (a) An assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or of a diocese, usually presided over by the dean. (b) A community of canons or canonesses. (c) A bishop's council. (d) A business meeting of any religious community.

3. An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.

4. A meeting of certain organized societies or orders.

5. A chapter house. [R.] Burrill.

6. A decretal epistle. Ayliffe.

7. A location or compartment.
In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom Shak.
Chapter head, or Chapter heading, that which stands at the head of a
chapter, as a title.
— Chapter house, a house or room where a chapter meets, esp. a
cathedral chapter.
— The chapter of accidents, chance. Marryat.