consociation

noun

1. (uncountable)Associating, or coming together in a union; (countable) an instance of this.

   “The ſum is this; after the greateſt conſociation of religious duties for preparation, no Man can be ſufficiently vvorthy to communicate, let us take care, that vve be not unvvorthy by bringing a guilt vvith us, or the remanent affection to a ſin.”

   “But thoſe Raptures of Devotion by day, might be by the Spirits kindling a purer kinde of Love-flame in his heart, as vvell as by fortifying and raiſing his Imagination. […] And if this be their manner of communion, it may vvell be enquired into, […] vvhether all men be capable of conſociation vvith theſe good Genii.”

   “Consent is the second mode of acquiring dominion. The consociation of male and female is the first species of it, which is principally in marriage, for which the promise of the woman to be faithful is required.”

2. (uncountable)Intimate companionship or fellowship; (countable) an instance of this.

   “She [the spirit of wisdom] glorifieth her nobilitie, hauing conſociation with God: yea and the Lord of al hath loued her.”

   “Thus Epictetus, a thorough Stoic, if ever there was any, ſpeaking of Death, ſays, "But whither do you go? no where to hurt you: You return from whence you came: To a friendly Conſociation with your kindred Elements: What their was of the Nature of Fire in your Compoſition, returns to the Element of Fire; what their was of Earth, to Earth; what of Air, to Air; and of Water, to Water. There is neither Hell, Acheron, Cocytus, or Pyriphlegethon."”

3. (countable)A confederation of Christian churches or organizations.
4. (US, countable, specifically, uncountable)A confederation of Christian churches or organizations.

   “In Connecticut some of the Congregational churches are associated in consociations and the others in associations.”

   “The Consociation was another meeting of the clergy, but embracing also with each minister a lay delegate, and thus uniting, not only the ministry, but the laymen of the county, in a general fraternal religious conference.”

5. (countable)A subdivision of an association, made up chiefly of organisms of a single species.
6. (countable)A power-sharing arrangement over territory entered into by competing groups.
7. (countable, obsolete)An alliance; a confederation.