[chap.ter] n [ME chapitre, fr. OF, fr. LL capitulum division of a book & ML, meeting place of canons, fr. L, dim. of capit-, caput head--more at head] (13c) 1 a: a main division of a book b: something resembling a chapter in being a significant specified unit "a new ~ in my life"
2. a: a regular meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a religious house b: the body of canons of a cathedral or collegiate church
3: a local branch of an organization