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dogma

 - 4 dictionary results

dog⋅ma

  [dawg-muh, dog-]
Use dogma in a Sentence
–noun, plural -mas, -ma⋅ta  [-muh-tuh] .
1. a system of principles or tenets, as of a church.
2. a specific tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down, as by a church: the dogma of the Assumption.
3. prescribed doctrine: political dogma.
4. a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle.
Origin:
1590–1600; < L < Gk, equiv. to dok(eîn) to seem, think, seem good + -ma n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dog·ma   (dôg'mə, dŏg'-)   
n.   pl. dog·mas or dog·ma·ta (-mə-tə)

  1. A doctrine or a corpus of doctrines relating to matters such as morality and faith, set forth in an authoritative manner by a church.

  2. An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true. See Synonyms at doctrine.

  3. A principle or belief or a group of them: "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present" (Abraham Lincoln).


[Latin, from Greek, opinion, belief, from dokein, to seem, think; see dek- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

dogma

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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Word Origin & History

dogma 
1541 (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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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