Skip to main content
chiliast movement

chiliast movement

9.9
A religious group that believes a thousand-year time of peace will begin soon because of a prediction
  • noun
  • /ˈkɪliˌæst ˈmuːvmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : movimiento milenarista
  • The chiliast movement drew crowds who awaited the prophesied golden age.

Examples

  • Many followers of the chiliast movement believe in a coming utopia.

  • The chiliast movement gained popularity in the early 20th century.

  • Debates about the authenticity of the chiliast movement filled the community's gatherings.

  • Many religious groups in history have emerged as part of a chiliast movement.

  • Many religious groups in history have emerged as part of a chiliast movement.

  • The chiliast movement drew crowds who awaited the prophesied golden age.

  • Debates about the authenticity of the chiliast movement filled the community's gatherings.

Synonyms

religious movement
vschiliast movement
3 3.5

A group of people who try to change beliefs and practices about faith

focuses on belief in an imminent thousand year period of peace and righteousness

Surface Forms

Morphology

chiliast + movement

This is a straightforward noun+noun composition: a 'movement' composed of 'chiliasts' (people who anticipate a thousand-year era), so a learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer it denotes a group or movement of such people. The structure follows standard English compounding and has direct parallels (e.g. 'millenarian movement'), making the overall meaning predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Chiliast movement may come from the word chiliast, which comes from a word meaning 'thousand', so early followers pictured a literal 'thousand'-year 'golden age' of peace. That's why chiliast movement refers to a religious group that expects a coming thousand-year time of peace and goodness.