From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Schism \Schism\, n. [OE. scisme, OF. cisme, scisme, F. schisme,
L. schisma, Gr. schi`sma, fr. schi`zein to split; akin to L.
scindere, Skr. chid, and prob. to E. shed, v.t. (which see);
cf. {Rescind}, {Schedule}, {Zest}.]
Division or separation; specifically (Eccl.), permanent
division or separation in the Christian church; breach of
unity among people of the same religious faith; the offense
of seeking to produce division in a church without
justifiable cause.
[1913 Webster]
Set bounds to our passions by reason, to our errors by
truth, and to our schisms by charity. --Eikon
Basilike.
[1913 Webster]
{Greek schism} (Eccl.), the separation of the Greek and Roman
churches.
{Great schism}, or {Western schism} (Eccl.) a schism in the
Roman church in the latter part of the 14th century, on
account of rival claimants to the papal throne.
{Schism act} (Law), an act of the English Parliament
requiring all teachers to conform to the Established
Church, -- passed in 1714, repealed in 1719.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
schism
n 1: division of a group into opposing factions; "another schism
like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy" [syn:
{schism}, {split}]
2: the formal separation of a church into two churches or the
withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
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