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Glite Dictionary
Romanism

Romanism

1 9.9
Beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church that some people call insulting
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊmənɪzəm/
  • Slur
: romanismo
  • For another, fuller version also see George Q. Flynn, Roosevelt and Romanism, ch. 4. Flynn, Roosevelt and Romanism, 112.

Examples

  • The author argues that Romanism has shaped cultural practices in ways that are often overlooked.

  • See George Q. Flynn, Roosevelt and Romanism (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1976), ch. 6.

    Academic text (1996)

  • We have held fast against atheism, romanism, unitarianism, and a score of lesser evils.

    Hawaii (1966)

  • For another, fuller version also see George Q. Flynn, Roosevelt and Romanism, ch. 4. Flynn, Roosevelt and Romanism, 112.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Many critics dismiss the influence of Romanism in modern politics as outdated and irrelevant.

  • Opponents of the policy were quick to label it as a resurgence of Romanism in government affairs.

Synonyms

Roman Catholicism
vsRomanism
4 3.9

A Christian religion led by the Pope in Rome

is used by opponents as a derogatory term with offensive tone

Surface Forms

Romanism singular
Romanisms plural

Morphology

Romanism = Roman (transparent) = Roman + ism

Formed by productive suffix '-ism' added to 'Roman' to denote a system or belief; the formation and basic meaning are straightforward.

Etymology

Romanism comes from Roman- meaning 'from Rome' and the ending -ism meaning 'belief' or 'system', like in Buddhism or heroism. So it was used to mean the religious 'system of Rome', often used by critics for the Roman Catholic Church and can sound offensive today.