Mithraism

[ mith-ruh-iz-uhm ]

/ ˈmɪθ rəˌɪz əm /

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noun

an ancient Persian religion in which Mithras was worshiped, involving secret rituals to which only men were admitted: a major competitor of Christianity in the Roman empire during the 2nd and 3rd centuries a.d.

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Also Mith·ra·i·cism

[mith-rey-uh-siz-uhm]. /mɪθˈreɪ əˌsɪz əm/.

Origin of Mithraism

Mithra(s) + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM Mithraism

Mith·ra·ic

[mith-rey-ik], /mɪθˈreɪ ɪk/, Mith·ra·is·tic, adjectiveMith·ra·ist, noun

Words nearby Mithraism

Mitford, mithan, mither, Mithgarthr, Mithraeum, Mithraism, Mithras, mithridate, Mithridates VI, mithridatism, mithridatize

How to use Mithraism in a sentence

In the reign of Pompey, Mithraism, a cult borrowed from Persia, was spread throughout the empire.
Reincarnation|Th. Pascal
It is highly probable that he had been influenced by Mithraism.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind|Herbert George Wells
An interesting parallel to the spread of Christianity in the Roman empire is afforded by the contemporary Mithraism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3|Various
Mithraism is a variant religion, which at one time spread over the Roman Empire and came near outclassing Christianity.
The Truth About Jesus is He a Myth?|M. M. Mangasarian

The most curious instance of the essential identity of the nature deities of the West and East will be found in Mithraism.
The Expositor's Bible: The Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 1|G. T. Stokes

British Dictionary definitions for Mithraism

Mithraism

Mithraicism (mɪθˈreɪɪˌsɪzəm)

/ (ˈmɪθreɪˌɪzəm) /

noun

the ancient Persian religion of Mithras. It spread to the Roman Empire during the first three centuries ad

Derived forms of Mithraism

Mithraic (mɪθˈreɪɪk) or Mithraistic, adjectiveMithraist, noun, 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