Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A text summarizing the basic principles of a Christian denomination, usually in question-and-answer form.
  • noun Formal indoctrination in the tenets of a Christian denomination; catechesis.
  • noun A manual giving basic instruction in a subject, usually by rote or repetition.
  • noun A body of fundamental principles or beliefs, especially when accepted uncritically.
  • noun A close questioning or examination, as of a political figure.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A form of instruction by means of questions and answers, particularly in the principles of religion.
  • noun An elementary book containing a summary of principles in any science or art, but especially in religion, reduced to the form of questions and answers, and sometimes with notes, explanations, and references to authorities.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A form of instruction by means of questions and answers.
  • noun A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers.
  • noun See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity.
  • noun A basic manual in some subject.
  • noun A set of questions designed to determine knowledge.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers
  • noun a series of question put to an individual (such as a political candidate) to elicit their views

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

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

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *κατηχισμός ("katēkhismos"), from κατηχίζω (katēkhizō, "to catechize"), a later extended form of κατηχέω (katēkheō, "to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth"), from κατά (kata, "down") + ἠχέω (ēkheō, "to sound, to resound").

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Examples

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  • specifically, the M-W definition

    March 10, 2011