[ad. L. jūdaism-us (Tertull.), a. Gr. ἰουδαϊσμός (2 Macc. ii. 21): see -ISM. Cf. F. Judaïsme (16th c. in Littré).]
1. The profession or practice of the Jewish religion; the religious system or polity of the Jews.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 334. He anon renouncyd his Iudaisme or Moysen lawe, and was cristenyd, and lyued after as a cristen man.
1611. Bible, 2 Macc. ii. 21. The manifest signes that came from heauen, vnto those that behaued themselues manfully to their honour for Judaisme.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 150. They being baptised, revolted to their former Iudaisme.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6437/1. Five [were found guilty] for Judaism.
1877. J. E. Carpenter, trans. Tiele’s Hist. Relig., 93. Judaism and Christianity had given currency to the doctrines of one God.
2. The act of Judaizing; adoption of Jewish practices on the part of Christians; a practice or style of thought like that of the Jews.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. Wks. (1851), 168. As if the touch of a lay Christian … could profane dead judaisms.
1641. I. H., Petit. agst. Pocklington, 21. The Lords day may be so termed [sabbath] without any danger of Judaisme.
a. 1831. A. Knox, Rem. (1844), I. 97. What I have already called the Judaism of his distinct party.
1833. J. H. Newman, Arians, I. i. (1876), 22. His ceremonial Judaism also was so notorious that one author even affirms that he observed the rite of circumcision.
3. Hist. As a rendering of med.L. Judaismus = JEWRY 2; applied also in official documents to the revenue derived by the Crown from the Jews, and to the treasury which received the money.
[1251. Close Roll, 35 Hen. III., m. 10. Mandatum est Edwardo de Westm. quod Judaismum regis apud Westm. et magnum cellarium vinorum regis lambruscari … faciat. [Cf. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1782), I. 17, note, This Judaism or Jewry, was probably an exchequer or treasury … for receiving the sums levied on the Jews.]
1290. Rolls Parlt., I. 49/1. Quandem portionem de Judaismo suo sibi faciat assignari.]
1861. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 116. The Jews had also their Jewerie, or Judaisme, not for a ‘corporation’ merely, but also for the requirements of their faith and worship, and for their living together.
1884. S. Dowell, Taxes Eng., I. IV. vi. 90. The revenue of the Judaism, as it was termed, was managed by a separate branch of the exchequer, termed the exchequer of the Jews.
