Sentence Definition:
A schism occurs when there is a cultural or mental divide in differing opinions of an idea.
Parts of the word:
Root: *skei-, Proto-Indo-European word meaning “to cut, split”
Suffix: -ism, meaning “act”
Etymology of the word schism (in reverse chronological order):
Middle English scisme
Middle French cisme
Late Latin schismat-, schisma
Dictionary Definition of the word schism:
Decision, Separation. Also: Discord, Disharmony
[In relation to religion]
formal division in or separation from a church or religious body
the offense of promoting schism
Other forms of the word schism:
schismatic, also schismatical, or schismatically: of, relating to, or guilty of schism
schismatize, schematize, or schismatizing: to take part in schism, especially: to make a breach of union (as in the church) ~verb transitive: to induce into schism
Use over time of the word schism:
The word was mainly used in ancient Rome to describe the cultural events that unfolded in the Church. When describing the event of the Schism, the word will most often be capitalized. However, today, the use of the word is more generalized, referring to any cultural division in the world. The meaning has almost never implied physical damage to a physical object.