Dictionary

catechism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *κατηχισμός (*katēkhismós), from κατηχίζω (katēkhízō, “to catechize”), a later extended form of κατηχέω (katēkhéō, “to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth”), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἠχέω (ēkhéō, “to sound, resound”).

Meanings

1. A book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity.
2. A basic manual in some subject.
3. A set of questions designed to determine knowledge.
   • Inscrutable His ways are, and immune To catechism by a mind too strewn With petty cares to slightly understand What awful brain compels His awful hand. 1925, Countee Cullen, Yet Do I Marvel:
   • ...the walls were covered with paper, whose original colour and pattern had long since merged in a dingy brown; over this were hung up some unframed drawings, and some shelves on which were ranged all the old school books, grammars, Pinnock's catechisms, and one or two French novels that had belonged to a former governess. 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter V, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 43:
   • Miss Taylor kept by his side, and resumed her catechism. “Is it a long time since you saw your friend?” “Just over seven years.” 1925, Agatha Christie, The Secret of Chimneys:

Forms

Deriveds

catechismal

Relateds

catechistic · catechesis · catechize · catechist · catechumen · catechetical

Translations (40)

ast catecismu (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · cmn 教義問答 /教义问答 (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · nn katekisme (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · pt catecismo (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · pl katechizm (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · da katekismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · gl catecismo (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · de Katechismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · nl catechismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · el κατήχηση (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · lv katķisms (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · cs katechismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · gd leabhar-cheist (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · cs katechizmus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ga teagasc Críostaí (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · nrf caticème (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · fi katekismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · cmn 問答集 /问答集 (set of questions) · uk катехі́зис (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · nb katekisme (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · el κατήχηση (set of questions) · ru катехи́зис (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · be катэхі́зіс (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · lv katehisms (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · it catechismo (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · hu katekizmus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ca catecisme (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · sv katekes (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · eo katekismo (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ny katekisima (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ro catehism (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · mk катихи́зис (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · es catecismo (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · fr catéchisme (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · mi katikīhama (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ja カテキズム (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · sw katekisimu (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · id katekismus (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · mh baibōļ (book summarizing the principles of Christianity) · ja 公教要理 (book summarizing the principles of Christianity)