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Manichaeism

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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)).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /mænɪˈkiːɪz(ə)m/[1]
  • IPA(key): /ˈmænɪkiːɪz(ə)m/ (less commonly)
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Proper noun

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Manichaeism

  1. (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.
  2. (philosophy) A dualistic philosophy dividing the world between good and evil principles, or regarding matter as intrinsically evil and mind as intrinsically good.
    • 1988 June 12, William Safire, “No Shades of Gray”, in The New York Times‎[1], →ISSN:
      In Manichaeism, as Benny Goodman used to sing, it's “Gotta Be This or That.” One thing or the other will triumph, in this dualistic view, and the winner is supposed to be determined in an apocalyptic struggle involving a world conflagration.

Synonyms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ “manichaeism”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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