counter-reformation
UK[ˌkaʊntə ˌrefəˈmeɪʃən]US[ˌkaʊntər ˌrefərˈmeɪʃən]
n
The period of Catholic revival and reform in the 16th and 17th centuries, initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation.
Morpheme Breakdown
counter
re
formation
counter
against
re
again
formation
shaping
Etymology
The term 'counter-reformation' is a modern historical construct, coined in the 19th century to describe the Catholic Church's organized response to the Protestant Reformation. It is built from the prefix 'counter-', derived from Latin contra, meaning 'against', directly opposing the 'reformation'. The core element, 'reformation', itself contains the Latin prefix 're-' (again) and the root 'formation' (from formare, to shape), literally meaning 'a reshaping again'. Thus, the word's logic narrates a movement of opposition ('counter-') to a prior movement of religious reshaping ('re-formation').
Analysis
Structure: counter (against) + re (again) + formation (shaping)
- counter: From Latin contra (against). A prefix indicating opposition or reciprocation.
- re: From Latin re- (again, back). A prefix indicating repetition or reversal.
- formation: From Latin formare (to form, shape). A noun-forming suffix indicating the action or process of forming or the state of being formed.
Examples
The Council of Trent was a central event in the Counter-Reformation.
Art and architecture from the Counter-Reformation period are often highly dramatic and emotional.
Historians debate the effectiveness of the Counter-Reformation in halting the spread of Protestantism.