Manichaeism
/mænɪˈkiːɪz(ə)m/ proper noun
Forms Manichaism Manicheism Manichæism
- proper noun (religion) A syncretic, dualistic religion that combines elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Gnostic thought, founded by the Iranian prophet Mani in the 3rd century AD.
- proper noun (philosophy) A dualistic philosophy dividing the world between good and evil principles, or regarding matter as intrinsically evil and mind as intrinsically good.
Synonyms
Manichaeanism Manicheanism
Etymology
From Latin Manichaismus, from Koine Greek Μανιχαϊσμός (Manikhaïsmós), from Μανιχαῖος (Manikhaîos, “Manichaeus”) [from Classical Syriac ܡܐܢܝ ܚܝܐ (Mānī ḥayyā, “Living Mani”), from ܡܐܢܝ (Mānī, “Mani”, the name of its founder) + ܚܝܐ (ḥayyā, “living, alive”)] + -ισμός (-ismós). By surface analysis, Manichaeus + -ism.
Although Manichaeism is the most widespread spelling in English, it is a hypercorrection. The expected derivation from Koine Greek Μανιχαϊσμός (Manikhaïsmós) and Latin Manichaismus is Manichaism (compare with Judaism, from Ancient Greek Ἰουδαϊσμός (Ioudaïsmós), or with archaism, from Ancient Greek ἀρχαϊσμός (arkhaïsmós)).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The doctrines taught, or system of principles maintained, by the Manichæans.
Etymology [Cf. F. manichéisme.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “Manichaeism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details