catechism
Meaning
a summary of the principles of christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of christians.
a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction in other situations.
Structure
Usage
the priest used a catechism to prepare the children for their first communion.
her political beliefs were learned like a catechism from her family.
the employee handbook served as a catechism for the company's culture and procedures.
Etymology
the word 'catechism' originates from late latin 'catechismus', which itself derives from ecclesiastical greek 'katēkhismos', meaning 'oral instruction'. this greek term is built on the verb 'katēkhein', meaning 'to teach orally' or 'to resound', a compound of 'kata-' ('thoroughly') and 'ēkhein' ('to sound, to ring'). the core imagery is of instruction via spoken words that 'echo down' to the learner. through christian latin usage, it became specialized for the method of teaching doctrine via question and answer, a meaning which later extended metaphorically to any rigid set of instructions or principles.
Analysis
cate- from greek 'kata-' meaning 'down, thoroughly'; -ech- from greek 'ēchē' meaning 'sound'; -ism from greek '-ismos' indicating an action, practice, or resulting state.