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noun, plural dog·mas or (Rare
) dog·ma·ta 
[dawg-muh-tuh] .
) dog·ma·ta [dawg-muh-tuh] . 1.
an official system of principles or tenets concerning faith, morals, behavior, etc., as of a church. Synonyms: doctrine, teachings, set of beliefs, philosophy.
2.
a specific tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down, as by a church: the dogma of the Assumption; the recently defined dogma of papal infallibility. Synonyms: tenet, canon, law.
3.
prescribed doctrine proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular group: the difficulty of resisting political dogma.
4.
a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle: the classic dogma of objectivity in scientific observation. Synonyms: conviction, certainty.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin < Greek, equivalent to dok(eîn) to seem, think, seem good + -ma noun suffix
1590–1600; < Latin < Greek, equivalent to dok(eîn) to seem, think, seem good + -ma noun suffix
Word Story
At the turn of the 17th century, dogma entered English from the Latin term meaning “philosophical tenet.” The Greek word from which it is borrowed means “that which one thinks is true,” and comes ultimately from the Greek dokein which means “to seem good” or “think.”
The origin of the word dogma acts as a reminder to English speakers that now-established principals and doctrines were once simply thoughts and opinions of ordinary people that gained popularity and eventually found their way into the universal consciousness of society. 20th century American academic and aphorist Mason Cooley concisely observed that “Under attack, sentiments harden into dogma,” suggesting that dogma is spawned as a defensive act. This idea implies that for every dogma that exists, there is a counter dogma. With so many “truths” out there, there is sure to be a dogma to conveniently fit every set of beliefs.
At the turn of the 17th century, dogma entered English from the Latin term meaning “philosophical tenet.” The Greek word from which it is borrowed means “that which one thinks is true,” and comes ultimately from the Greek dokein which means “to seem good” or “think.”
The origin of the word dogma acts as a reminder to English speakers that now-established principals and doctrines were once simply thoughts and opinions of ordinary people that gained popularity and eventually found their way into the universal consciousness of society. 20th century American academic and aphorist Mason Cooley concisely observed that “Under attack, sentiments harden into dogma,” suggesting that dogma is spawned as a defensive act. This idea implies that for every dogma that exists, there is a counter dogma. With so many “truths” out there, there is sure to be a dogma to conveniently fit every set of beliefs.
Popular References
—Dogma: A film written and directed by Kevin Smith, released in 1999.
—Dogma 95: A movement in cinema started by Danish director Lars von Trier in 1995, which established filmmaking constraints such as no use of special effects.
—Dogma: A film written and directed by Kevin Smith, released in 1999.
—Dogma 95: A movement in cinema started by Danish director Lars von Trier in 1995, which established filmmaking constraints such as no use of special effects.
Citations
“Let it be understood once for all that Catholic dogma does not fix a limit to the operations of reason in dealing with divine truth.”
—A. N. Littlejohn, “Catholic Dogma: Its Nature and Obligations,” Catholic Dogma (1892) http://books.google.com/books?id=OtMYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=catholic%20dogma%20does%20not%20fix%20a&f=false
—A. N. Littlejohn, “Catholic Dogma: Its Nature and Obligations,” Catholic Dogma (1892) http://books.google.com/books?id=OtMYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=catholic%20dogma%20does%20not%20fix%20a&f=false
“Since the time of Moses Mendelssohn (1728–1786), the chief Jewish dogma has been that Judaism has no dogmas.”
—Israel Abrahams, Judaism (1907) http://books.google.com/books?id=aB4uAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
—Israel Abrahams, Judaism (1907) http://books.google.com/books?id=aB4uAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
“To me there was no question so important as the emancipation of women from the dogmas of the past, political, religious, and social.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eighty years and more: Reminiscences 1815-1897 (1898) http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/stanton/years/years.html
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eighty years and more: Reminiscences 1815-1897 (1898) http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/stanton/years/years.html
“Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
—Steve Jobs, “Commencement Address at Stanford University,” American Rhetoric (delivered June 12, 2005)
—Steve Jobs, “Commencement Address at Stanford University,” American Rhetoric (delivered June 12, 2005)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dogma
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Example Sentences
- That is a religious dogma, not a rational belief.
- But rather than relying on reason and evidence to support them, faith relies on revelation, dogma and authority.
- As a dogma it is purely subjective.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
dogma
1540s (implied in dogmatist), from L. dogma "philosophical tenet," from Gk. dogma (gen. dogmatos) "opinion, tenet," lit. "that which one thinks is true," from dokein "to seem good, think" (see decent). Treated in 17c.-18c. as Gk., with pl. dogmata.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
dogma definition
A teaching or set of teachings laid down by a religious group, usually as part of the essential beliefs of the group.
Note: The term dogma is often applied to statements put forward by someone who thinks, inappropriately, that they should be accepted without proof.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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