indoctrinate, v.
(ɪnˈdɒktrɪneɪt)
Also 7, 9 en-.
[f. L. type *indoctrīnāre, -īnāt- (see doctrinate), prob. used in med. or mod.L.: cf. It. indottrinare (Florio), Pr. endoctrinar, F. endoctriner (12th c. in Littré).]
1. a. trans. To imbue with learning, to teach.
| 1626 Jackson Creed viii. xii. §6 This will not indoctrinate him to know the extremities of the stone so perfectly as his meanest patient doth. 1652–62 Heylin Cosmogr. ii. (1682) 128 They are altogether unlearned, even the Priests meanly indoctrinated. 1677 Govt. Venice 144 Young Gentlemen, who..are received into the Colledg to be indoctrinated. 1820 Scott Monast. xix, It shall be my part so to indoctrinate him, as to convince him what is due..to your lordship. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi xxv. 513 No pains whatever are taken to indoctrinate the adults of the tribe. |
b. To instruct in a subject, principle, etc.
| 1656 H. More Enthus. Tri. 21 Manes..left a sect behind him indoctrinated in all licentious and filthy principles. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 312 The lord treasurer Burleigh..was indoctrinated by a cobbler in the true tanning of leather. 1858 Sears Athan. iii. v. 291 His mind had become thoroughly indoctrinated in the tenets of his sect. 1876 C. Geikie Christ xxxv. (1879) 417 He rather trained their spiritual character than indoctrinated them in systematic theology. |
c. To imbue with a doctrine, idea, or opinion. spec. To imbue with Communist ideas, etc. (cf. indoctrination).
| 1832 Blackw. Mag. XXXII. 438 The little town having long before been handsomely endoctrinated with philosophy..and the solemn and sworn belief that every Frenchman..was perfectly competent to judge of politics. 1861 M. Arnold Pop. Educ. France 59 Fully indoctrinated with a sense of the magnitude of their office. 1874 Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. iii. (1879) 130 It has been the writer's object..to indoctrinate the Reader with that idea [etc.]. 1945 Mencken Amer. Lang. Suppl. I. 306 The reds who emerged from hiding on the establishment of the entente cordiale with Russia in 1940..have revived and propagated..to indoctrinate, [etc.]. 1958 Times 22 May 6/4 It was his duty to indoctrinate leading coders who were proceeding abroad. 1958 Oxford Mail 5 June 6/8 Robert Ford, the English wireless operator ‘indoctrinated’ by the Chinese in Tibet. |
d. To bring into a knowledge of something.
| 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Spir. Laws Wks. (Bohn) I. 62 If a teacher have any opinion which he wishes to conceal, his pupils will become as fully indoctrinated into that as into any which he publishes. 1862 Goulburn Pers. Relig. 274 May He indoctrinate us into it. |
2. To teach, inculcate (a subject, etc.). rare.
| 1800 T. Green Extracts (1810) 209 The Adventures of St. Leon..do not indoctrinate the unsatisfactory nature of boundless opulence and immortal youth. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. v. 308 The philosophical sciences can only be indoctrinated by a master. |
Hence inˈdoctrinated ppl. a.; inˈdoctrinating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. i, To expresse his indoctrinating power in what sort him best seem'd. 1644 ― Educ. (1780) 183 Then will be required a speciall reinforcement of constant and sound endoctrinating to set them right and firm. 1870 Anderson Missions Amer. Bd. IV. xlv. 471 Churches..each with its indoctrinated native pastor. |