v. Forms: 5 cathezize, (6 cathecyse, 7 catachise), 6– catechise, 7– -chize. [ad. L. catēchizā-re, Tertullian (in med.L. also catecizare, catezizare, cathesizare, in F. catéchiser (16th c. in Littré), Pr. cathesizar, Sp. catequizar, It. catechizzare), f. Gr. κατηχίζ-ειν to instruct orally, a derivative of factitive form from κατηχέ-ειν to resound, to sound amiss, to din in, instill, teach or instruct orally, f. κατά down, thoroughly + ἠχεῖν to sound, ring. The primary vb. is in N. T.; the derivative, of later introduction, had only the technical ecclesiastical application.]
1. trans. To give systematic oral instruction; to instruct (the young or ignorant) in the elements of religion by repeating the instruction until it is learnt by heart, or (as always implied in modern times) by the method of formal questions and answers; to instruct by means of a catechism; in the Church of England, to teach the catechism, esp. in preparation for confirmation.
1449. [see CATECHIZED].
14[?]. in Anglia, VIII. 164. A chile shulde be catecized, þat is to seye enformed in þe feith atte chirchedore.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men, I. ii. (W. de W., 1506), 13. Cathecyser is as moche to saye as to instruct or teche the fundacyons and artycles necessary of our holy fayth.]
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 907. Pastour … catechiseth, that is to say, instructeth them that be yonglings in religion.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., Chronol., E j a. Constantine, being confirmed by a signe from heaven, becommeth catechized in the Faith.
1611. Bible, Prov. xxii. 6. Traine vp [marg. catechise] a childe in the way he should goe.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scotl., an. 1616 (1668), 528 (R.). That children should be carefully catechised, and confirmed by the Bishops.
a. 1711. Ken, Direct. Prayer, Wks. (1838), 341.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 3. I … was once upon a time catechised and tutored into the belief of a God.
1836. Hook, in Life, I. 292. To become a good catechist you must catechise.
b. fig. (ironical.)
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. xx. 143 (D.). Reclaimed, if used with gentle means, not catechized with fire and fagot.
† 2. To teach orally, instill (religious instruction).
a. 1625. Boys, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., I. 312. Their voices are well understood, catechising the first elements of religion.
† 3. To instruct orally (in any subject). Obs.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., To Rdr. (1676), 35/2. Such Visitor … might … root out atheism … catechise gross ignorance, purge Italy of luxury and riot.
1623. Cockeram, Catechize, to instruct by mouth.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 313. Whether Herodotus were rightly Catechized and instructed in the Egyptian Doctrine … may very well be questioned.
4. To examine with a catechism or in the manner of a theological catechism; to question as to belief.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 78. And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to Catechise them. Ibid., 81. Come Matthew, shall I also Catechise you?
1869. Daily News, 22 Dec., 5/1. These gentlemen wanted Dr. Temple … to admit their right to catechise him.
1873. Morley, Rousseau, I. 228. He was closely catechized by a commission of members of the consistory.
5. To question or interrogate systematically or at length; esp. to question or examine with a view to reproof or condemnation; to take to task.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iv. 16. I will Catechize the world for him, that is, make Questions, and by them answer.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Prophecy, Wks. (1711), 181. Armed vagabonds catechising every man by the purse.
1659. Pearson, Creed (1839), 62. God … catechised the prophet Jeremy in a potter’s house, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?
1727. Swift, To very yng. Lady. Catechising him where he has been.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 203. Pierce my vein, Take of the crimson stream meandring there, And catechise it well.
1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, I. viii. 309. She was catechised without end; perhaps she suffered corporeal chastisement.
1863. Emerson, Thoreau, Wks. (Bohn), III. 334. Asking questions of Indians is like catechizing beavers and rabbits.
Hence Catechized ppl. a.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. ii. 426. No man baptisid or Cathezized.
1640. Brathwait, in Yorke, Union Hon., Pref. Verses.
| So, even as Parents could not but thinke shame | |
| Their Catechised childe should lose his name. |
1858. F. Paget, Parish & Priest, 70. He may be as heretical as he will, but he will do no mischief if he preaches to a catechized congregation.
