Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Schism

Schism, n. [OE. scisme, OF. cisme, scisme, F. schisme, L. schisma, Gr. σχίσμα, fr. σχίζειν 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.

Set bounds to our passions by reason, to our errors by truth, and to our schisms by charity. Eikon Basilike.

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(Law), an act of the English Parliament requiring all teachers to conform to the Established Church, — passed in 1714, repealed in 1719.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty.