different between catechumen vs catechism

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French catéchumène or Ecclesiastical Latin cat?ch?menus, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ???????????? (kat?khoúmenos, “being instructed”), present participle passive of ??????? (kat?khé?, “sound through, instruct orally, catechise”), from ???? (katá, “down”) + ??? (?kh?, “sound”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?kæt.??kju?.m?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kæt.??kju.m?n/

Noun

catechumen (plural catechumens)

1. A convert to Christianity under instruction before baptism; a young or recent Christian preparing for confirmation.

Derived terms

• catechumenal
• catechumenate
• catechumenist

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• categise (eye dialect, archaic, rare)

Etymology

From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *?????????? (*kat?khismós), from ???????? (kat?khíz?, “to catechize”), a later extended form of ??????? (kat?khé?, “to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth”), from ???? (katá, “down”) + ???? (?khé?, “to sound, resound”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kæt??k?z?m/

Noun

catechism (plural catechisms)

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.
   • 1925, Countee Cullen, Yet Do I Marvel

     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.

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• catechism in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• catechism in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

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