congress

将“congress”联想为“con”代表结合（combine）和“gress”类似于步伐（step），想象一群人（gress）结合（con）一起大步前进，进行会议或集会。这种方法可以帮助你记忆这个单词作为“代表大会”或“国会”的意思。

congress 代表大会

con-, 强调。-gress, 走，词源同grade, aggressive.原义指一群人走到一起。

congress

congress: [16] A congress is literally a ‘coming together’ – hence, a ‘meeting’. The word comes from Latin congressus, which was based on the past participial stem of congredī ‘come together’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix com- ‘together’ and gradī ‘go, walk’ (a derivative of gradus ‘step’, from which English gets grade, gradual, and graduate). The application of the word to the US legislature dates from the 1770s.
=> grade, gradual, graduate, progress, transgress

congress (n.)

c. 1400, "body of attendants; also "meeting of armed forces" (mid-15c.); main modern sense of "coming together of people, a meeting" is from 1520s; from Latin congressus "a friendly meeting; a hostile encounter," past participle of congredi "meet with, fight with," from com- "together" (see com-) + gradi "to walk," from gradus "a step" (see grade (n.)).

Sense of "meeting of delegates" is first recorded 1670s. Meaning "sexual union" is from 1580s. Used in reference to the national legislative body of the American states since 1775 (though since 1765 in America as a name for proposed bodies). Congress of Vienna met Nov. 1, 1814, to June 8, 1815, and redrew the map of Europe with an eye to creating a balance of powers after the disruptions of Napoleon.

1. Eisenhower used his muscle to persuade Congress to change the law.

艾森豪威尔用他的影响力说服国会修改了该项法律。

2. The African National Congress threatened to withdraw from the talks.

非洲国民大会威胁要退出会谈。

3. The American Congress has agreed to forgive Egypt's military debt.

美国国会同意免除埃及的军事债务。

4. Congress as an institution scores low in public opinion polls.

作为一个公共机构，国会在公众民意调查中得分很低。

5. He should not commit American troops without the full consent of Congress.

没有国会的完全同意，他不应该调遣美国军队。

【rally, congress, session, assembly, meeting, gathering, convention, conference, council】
这组词都有“会，会议”的意思，其区别是：
rally: 指大规模的群众性政治集会。
congress: 指国会、议会、代表大会等机构，尤指经选举产生的国家立法机构的大会或由这些机构召开的大会，也可指专业人员代表大会。
session: 一般指议会等召开的正式会议。
assembly: 多指一个通常有许多人参加、计划好的，为某一特殊目的而召集的会议。
meeting: 普通用词，词义广泛。指一般性的会议，可用于任何场合。
gathering: 指两人以上的聚会或集会，强调非正式性。
convention: 侧重指某一政党或团体为某一特殊目的而召开的会议；也可指学术团体的年会。
conference: 正式用词，一般指大型会议，如政府工作会议、国际学术交流会议、各国之间的协商、会谈等。
council: 在国际上多指由各国代表参加的政治会议，或常设的政治机构。在国内、地方上，此词多指常设的政务领导机构，如市政委员会等。

【parliament, congress】
这组词都有“国会，议会”的意思，其区别是：
parliament: 指英国或加拿大等国的议会，通常用大写形式。
congress: 指美国等国的国会，也可指代表大会。