15 results for: Schism

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

schism

Audio Help [siz-uh

–noun

1.	division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties.

2.	the parties so formed.

Ecclesiastical.

a.	a formal division within, or separation from, a church or religious body over some doctrinal difference.

b.	the state of a sect or body formed by such division.

c.	the offense of causing or seeking to cause such a division.

[Origin: 1350–1400; < LL (Vulgate) sc(h)isma (s. sc(h)ismat-) < Gk, deriv. of schízein to split, with -ma (s. -mat-) n. suffix of result; r. ME (s)cisme, sisme < MF < LL, as above

]

—Related forms

schismless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Schism

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

schism Audio Help (skĭz'əm, sĭz'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

A separation or division into factions.
1. A formal breach of union within a Christian church.
2. The offense of attempting to produce such a breach.
Disunion; discord.

[Middle English scisme, from Old French, from Latin schisma, schismat-, from Greek skhisma, from skhizein, to split; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]

Usage Note: The word schism, which was originally spelled scisme in English, is traditionally pronounced (sĭz'əm). However, in the 16th century the word was respelled with an initial sch in order to conform to its Latin and Greek forms. From this spelling arose the pronunciation (skĭz'əm). Long regarded as incorrect, it became so common in both British and American English that it gained acceptability as a standard variant. Evidence indicates, however, that it is now the preferred pronunciation, at least in American English. In a recent survey 61 percent of the Usage Panel indicated that they use (skĭz'əm), while 31 percent said they use (sĭz'əm). A smaller number, 8 percent, preferred a third pronunciation, (shĭz'əm).

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
schism

1382, scisme, "dissention within the church," from O.Fr. cisme "a cleft, split," from L.L. schisma, from Gk. skhisma (gen. skhismatos) "division, cleft," from stem of skhizein "to split" (see shed (v.)). Spelling restored 16c., but pronunciation unchanged. Often in reference to the Great Schism (1378-1417) in the Western Church. Schismatic (n.) is attested from 1377.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

schism
noun
1.	division of a group into opposing factions; "another schism like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy"
2.	the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
schism [(siz-uhm, skiz-uhm)]

A break within a church, such as the division between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

[Chapter:] World Literature, Philosophy, and Religion

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Ab*scind"\, v. t. [L. absindere; ab + scindere to rend, cut. See Schism.] To cut off. [R.] "Two syllables . . . abscinded from the rest." --Johnson.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Sched"ule\ (?; in England commonly ?; 277), n. [F. c['e]dule, formerly also spelt schedule, L. schedula, dim. of scheda, scida, a strip of papyrus bark, a leaf of paper; akin to (or perh. from) Gr. ? a tablet, leaf, and to L. scindere to cleave, Gr. ?. See Schism, and cf. Cedule.] A written or printed scroll or sheet of paper; a document; especially, a formal list or inventory; a list or catalogue annexed to a larger document, as to a will, a lease, a statute, etc.

Syn: Catalogue; list; inventory. see List.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Schism\, n. [OE. scisme, OF. cisme, scisme, F. schisme, L. schisma, Gr. schi`sma, fr. schi`zein to split; akin to L. scindere, Skr. chid, and prob. to E. shed, v.t. (which see); cf. Rescind, Schedule, Zest.] Division or separation; specifically (Eccl.), permanent division or separation in the Christian church; breach of unity among people of the same religious faith; the offense of seeking to produce division in a church without justifiable cause.

Set bounds to our passions by reason, to our errors by truth, and to our schisms by charity. --Eikon Basilike.

Greek schism (Eccl.), the separation of the Greek and Roman churches.

Great schism, or Western schism (Eccl.) a schism in the Roman church in the latter part of the 14th century, on account of rival claimants to the papal throne.

Schism act (Law), an act of the English Parliament requiring all teachers to conform to the Established Church, -- passed in 1714, repealed in 1719.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Schis"ma\, n. [L., a split, separation, Gr. schi`sma: cf. F. schisma. See Schism.] (Anc. Mus.) An interval equal to half a comma.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Schist\ (sh[i^]st), n. [Gr. ? divided, divisible, fr. ? to divide: cf. F. schiste. See Schism.] (Geol.) Any crystalline rock having a foliated structure (see Foliation) and hence admitting of ready division into slabs or slates. The common kinds are mica schist, and hornblendic schist, consisting chiefly of quartz with mica or hornblende and often feldspar.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Scis"sile\, a. [L. scissilis, fr. scindere, scissum, to cut, to split: cf. F. scissile. See Schism.] Capable of being cut smoothly; scissible. [R.] --Arbuthnot.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Shed\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shed; p. pr. & vb. n. Shedding.] [OE. scheden, sch?den, to pour, to part, AS. sc[=a]dan, sce['a]dan, to pert, to separate; akin to OS. sk??an, OFries. sk?tha, G. scheiden, OHG. sceidan, Goth. skaidan, and probably to Lith. sk["e]du I part, separate, L. scindere to cleave, to split, Gr. ???, Skr. chid, and perch. also to L. caedere to cut. [root]159. Cf. Chisel, Concise, Schism, Sheading, Sheath, Shide.]

1. To separate; to divide. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Robert of Brunne.

2. To part with; to throw off or give forth from one's self; to emit; to diffuse; to cause to emanate or flow; to pour forth or out; to spill; as, the sun sheds light; she shed tears; the clouds shed rain.

Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? --Shak.

Twice seven consenting years have shed Their utmost bounty on thy head. --Wordsworth.

3. To let fall; to throw off, as a natural covering of hair, feathers, shell; to cast; as, fowls shed their feathers; serpents shed their skins; trees shed leaves.

4. To cause to flow off without penetrating; as, a tight roof, or covering of oiled cloth, sheeds water.

5. To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover. [R.] "Her hair . . . is shed with gray." --B. Jonson.

6. (Weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

Zest\, n. [F. zeste, probably fr. L. schistos split, cleft, divided, Gr. ?, from ? to split, cleave. Cf. Schism.]

1. A piece of orange or lemon peel, or the aromatic oil which may be squeezed from such peel, used to give flavor to liquor, etc.

2. Hence, something that gives or enhances a pleasant taste, or the taste itself; an appetizer; also, keen enjoyment; relish; gusto.

Almighty Vanity! to thee they owe Their zest of pleasure, and their balm of woe. --Young.

Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest zest and relish to social intercourse. --Gogan.

3. The woody, thick skin inclosing the kernel of a walnut. [Obs.]

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Schism

a separation, an alienation causing divisions among Christians, who ought to be united (1 Cor. 12:25).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

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