Jansenism

[jan-suh-niz-uh m]

noun

the doctrinal system of Cornelis Jansen and his followers, denying free will and maintaining that human nature is corrupt and that Christ died for the elect and not for all humanity.

Origin of Jansenism

From the French word jansénisme, dating back to 1650–60. See Jansen, -ism

Related formsJan·sen·ist, nounJan·sen·is·tic, Jan·sen·is·ti·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for jansenism

Historical Examples of jansenism

It was the same with a host of pieces relating to Jansenism.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915
Various
His promotion in the Church was checked by his partiality for Jansenism.
Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume I (of 2)
John Hill Burton
The elimination of the Jesuits was a triumph for so-called Jansenism.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 4
Henry Charles Lea
Father Brisacier, born 1603, a Jesuit, and a warm opponent of Jansenism.
The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal
His work did much to extirpate what was left of Jansenism in Europe.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921
Thomas J. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for jansenism

Jansenism

noun

RC Church the doctrine of the Cornelis Jansen and his disciples, who maintained that salvation was limited to those subject to a supernatural determinism, the rest being destined to perdition
the religious movement arising from these doctrines

Derived FormsJansenist, noun, adjectiveJansenistic or Jansenistical, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for jansenism

Jansenism

1650s, in reference to doctrine of Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638), Catholic bishop of Ypres, who maintained the perverseness and inability for good of the natural human will. Related: Jansenist.