| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| catechism |
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| SYLLABICATION: | cat·e·chism |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  k t  -kz  m |
| NOUN: | 1. A book giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in question-and-answer form. 2. A manual giving basic instruction in a subject, usually by rote or repetition. 3. 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). 4. A close questioning or examination, as of a political figure. | | ETYMOLOGY: | French catechisme, from Old French, from Late Latin cat chismus, from Late Greek katkhismos, from katkhizein, to teach by word of mouth. See catechize.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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