doctrine
UK[ˈdɒktrɪn]US[ˈdɑːktrɪn]
n
a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.
n
a stated principle of government policy, especially in foreign or military affairs.
Morpheme Breakdown
doct
rine
doct
teach
rine
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'doctrine' entered english in the late 14th century via old french, originating from the latin 'doctrina', meaning 'teaching, learning, or body of knowledge'. this latin term itself is built on the verb 'docēre' (to teach), which is traceable to the proto-indo-european root dek- (to take, accept), a base that evolved to encompass the concept of receiving instruction. the semantic journey thus moved from the physical act of receiving to the intellectual act of teaching, culminating in the modern sense of a codified set of taught principles or official beliefs.
Analysis
Structure: doct (teach) + rine (noun suffix)
- doct: from latin 'docēre' (to teach). functional role: root, conveying the core meaning of teaching or instruction.
- rine: a suffixal element derived from latin '-trina', indicating a result or product. functional role: noun-forming suffix.
Examples
the church's doctrine on the matter has remained unchanged for centuries.
the monroe doctrine was a pivotal statement of american foreign policy.
he was criticized for blindly following the party's political doctrine.