catechism

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“
All the answers in the catechism are the wrong way about; it is the scholar who instructs the teacher; in the child's mouth they are a downright lie, since they explain what he does not understand, and affirm what he cannot believe.

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Definitions (9)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun A book giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in question-and-answer form.
  2. noun A manual giving basic instruction in a subject, usually by rote or repetition.
  3. noun A body of fundamental principles or beliefs, especially when accepted uncritically: "the core of the catechism of the antinuclear left, the notion that the threat to peace is technological, not political” (George F. Will).
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Examples

  • All the answers in the catechism are the wrong way about; it is the scholar who instructs the teacher; in the child's mouth they are a downright lie, since they explain what he does not understand, and affirm what he cannot believe. —  Emile
  • The first question I find in our catechism is as follows: "Who created you and brought you into the world?" —  Emile
  • Elizabeth had no trouble with her Golden Text or the Psalm, but the catechism was an insupportable burden. —  'Lizbeth of the Dale
  • Then we had what we called the catechism -- the chief end of man. —  Lectures of Col. R. G. Ingersoll - Latest
  • I was rather pleased at the first question in the Church catechism, which is certainly quite on the level of any child's understanding, — 'What is your name?' —  The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe
 

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French catechisme, from Old French, from Late Latin catēchismus, from Late Greek katēkhismos, from katēkhizein, to teach by word of mouth; see catechize.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = French catéchisme = Spanish catecismo, catequismo = Portuguese catechismo = Italian catechismo, catecismo = Dutch catechismus = German katechismus = Danish katekismus (cf. Swedish kateches), from Late Latin catechismus, from Greek *κατηχισμός, from κατηχίζειν, catechize: see catechise.
 

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/ˈkætəkɪzm/
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