Jansenism

American  

[jan-suh-niz-uhm] / ˈdʒæn səˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. 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.

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Jansenism British  

/ ˈdʒænsəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. 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

2. the religious movement arising from these doctrines

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Other Word Forms

• Jansenist noun
• Jansenistic adjective
• Jansenistical adjective

Etymology

Origin of Jansenism

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

Example Sentences

So the word ‘fact’ in its modern sense becomes respectable in English only after 1661, while in French it was at first a word particularly associated with Jansenism.

From Literature

The Jesuits see that too, and are very willing to furnish such occupation; but the King, who thinks himself a new St. George, is tired of persecuting Jansenism.

From Project Gutenberg

This question of Jansenism and Molinism occupied France for about two hundred years.

From Project Gutenberg

He was welcomed especially by the members of a family destined to hold the destinies of Jansenism in their grasp, the Arnaulds of Port Royal.

From Project Gutenberg

After the king's death the tribunal prohibited this work as infected with Jansenism.

From Project Gutenberg