popish
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˈpoʊpɪʃ/
- Slur
:
papista
- The historian criticized the popish practices of the church in his latest book.
- popish superstition
Examples
-
Mather, like an old hard-hearted, pedantic bigot as he was, seems to exult in the destruction of these poor wretches on account of their Popish superstitions.
Academic text (1998) -
And there's the the Popish plot and it's revealed and it leads to all these executions of Catholics, more crackdowns.
-
On another occasion, a popish priest had a vision of the Virgin Mary in glory with the Christ child in her arms.
Academic text (2018) -
Briefly stated, Gavazzi, after a lecture on Saturday evening, 4 June, entitled "The Popish System is Blindness," spoke again the following Monday.
Academic text (2003) -
Popish idolatry!
-
" Agnes was quick to deny what she had so clearly implied, adding, " All the girl spouts is popish gibberish, save for your name, and might I say that I consider it very strange indeed that you have gifted her with the casual use of your Christian title.
Fiction book (1991) -
As late as 1753, the people of Charles Town still gathered for "the Anniversary of our happy Deliverance from a most horrid Popish Plot, and of the glorious Revolution by the landing of King William in England," though the newspaper only noted that the "Day was observed here as usual."
Academic text (2007) -
When judgments of law came to be given on the person, not the cause considered, there grew the rise of a Popish successor, the violation of the choice of sheriffs, corruption of judges, and their extraordinary censures, which produced this judgment on Oates and Johnson, one of the greatest persons of the nation....
Academic text (2004) -
Because they were older and more intellectually aware, college students seemed less vulnerable to religious indoctrination (or so-called "popish practices," in the case of Catholic schools) than elementary-school children or even high-school students.
Academic text (2002) -
The Gospel, having made considerable strides under Edward VI, was now buried deep underground, and good Christians, fearing the reach of the "Popish Synagogue," dared not "confess Christ openly."
Academic text (2018)
Synonyms
83
3.9
Related to the Catholic Church in Rome and its practices
37
3.2
Relating to the Christian church led by the Pope
Relating to the Roman Catholic Church, often used as an insult
Compounds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Popish comes from Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, plus the ending -ish meaning 'like' or 'related to'. It was often used as a negative label for things or people seen as 'like the Pope' or the Catholic Church, which is why it sounds old-fashioned or insulting today.