Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
scherzando
scherzo
Scheveningen
Schick test
Schiff’s reagent
schiller
schilling
schipperke
schism
schismatic
schist
schistocyte
schistosome
schistosomiasis
schiz-
schizo
schizo-
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "schism" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

schism

schism [ skízzəm, sízzəm ] (plural schisms)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. division in religious denomination: a major split within an established religious denomination, usually on the grounds of differences in belief or practice, leading to the setting up of a separate breakaway organization, or the offense of causing such a split

2. divisive unpleasant split: the division of a group into mutually antagonistic factions

3. faction: a faction formed as a result of a schism

[14th century. Via French< late Latin schisma< Greek skhizein "to split"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft