Dogma

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dogma \Dog"ma\ (d[o^]g"m[.a]), n.; pl. E. {Dogmas}
     (d[o^]g"m[.a]z), L. {Dogmata} (d[o^]g"m[.a]*t[.a]). [L.
     dogma, Gr. do`gma, pl. do`gmata, fr. dokei^n to think, seem,
     appear; akin to L. decet it is becoming. Cf. {Decent}.]
     1. That which is held as an opinion; a tenet; a doctrine.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              The obscure and loose dogmas of early antiquity. --
                                                    Whewell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A formally stated and authoritatively settled doctrine; a
        definite, established, and authoritative tenet.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or
        truth; an arbitrary dictum.
  
     Syn: tenet; opinion; proposition; doctrine.
  
     Usage: -- {Dogma}, {Tenet}. A tenet is that which is
            maintained as true with great firmness; as, the tenets
            of our holy religion. A dogma is that which is laid
            down with authority as indubitably true, especially a
            religious doctrine; as, the dogmas of the church. A
            tenet rests on its own intrinsic merits or demerits; a
            dogma rests on authority regarded as competent to
            decide and determine. Dogma has in our language
            acquired, to some extent, a repulsive sense, from its
            carrying with it the idea of undue authority or
            assumption. This is more fully the case with its
            derivatives dogmatical and dogmatism.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  dogma
       n 1: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without
            proof [syn: {tenet}]
       2: a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative; "he
          believed all the Marxist dogma"
       [also: {dogmata} (pl)]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  22 Moby Thesaurus words for "dogma":
     Athanasian Creed, Catechism, Nicene Creed, a belief,
     article of faith, articles of faith, articles of religion, axiom,
     belief, canon, conviction, credenda, credo, creed, doctrine, maxim,
     persuasion, precept, principle, teaching, tenet, view
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  DOGMA, civil law. This word is used in the first chapter, first section, of 
  the second Novel, and signifies an ordinance of the senate. See also Dig. 
  27, 1, 6.