Etymology of the English word catechism
the English word
catechismderived from the Old French word
catechismederived from the Latin word
catechismus (catechism, book of elementary Christian instruction)
derived from the Greek word
katechismos, κατηχισμός
derived from the Greek word
katechizein, κατηχίζειν
derived from the Greek word
katechein, κατηχεῖν (to hold down (fast), in various applications)
using the Greek prefix
kata-, κατα-
derived from the Greek word
kata, κατά (down)
derived from the Greek word
ekhederived from the Greek word
echein, ἔχω
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*segh-derived from the Greek word
katecheo, κατηχέω (to sound down into the ears; to indoctrinate ('catechize') or (genitive case) to apprise of)
derived from the Church Greek word
katekhizeinderived from the Greek word
katechein, κατηχεῖν (to hold down (fast), in various applications)
using the Greek prefix
kata-, κατα-
derived from the Greek word
kata, κατά (down)
derived from the Greek word
ekhederived from the Greek word
echein, ἔχω
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*segh-Date
The earliest known usage of catechism in English dates from the 16th century.
Cognates
Dutch
catechismus, French
catéchisme, German
Katechismus, Norwegian
katekisme, Swedish
katekesUsage
Word found in Modern English
