Catholicism
/ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪzəm/noun
The faith, practice, and system of beliefs of the Catholic Church.
Did you know?The term 'Catholic' dates back to the 2nd century and was used to signify the universal nature of the Church, transcending local beliefs and practices.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
καθολικός (katholikos)
“Meaning 'general' or 'universal', referring to the whole as opposed to the part.”
2nd Century
Greek
καθολικῶς (katholikōs)
“Used in early Christian texts to describe the universal Church.”
4th Century
Latin
catholicus
“Adopted into Latin from Greek, maintaining the meaning of 'universal'.”
16th Century
Latin
catholicismus
“Emerges as a term to describe the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church during the Reformation.”
Modern English
English
Catholicism
“Established as the term for the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.”