theo-
(θiːəʊ)
or, before a vowel, the-, repr. Gr. θεο-, stem of θεός God; in many compounds adopted from, or formed on the analogy of, Greek, or from Greek (rarely Latin or other) elements. See in their alphabetical places theanthropic, theocracy, theology, theosophy, etc. ˌtheo-anthropoˈmorphic a., pertaining to gods in human form; so ˌtheo-anthropoˈmorphism: cf. anthropomorphic, anthropomorphism. ˌtheo-astroˈlogical a., of or pertaining to astrology theologically treated. theoˈcentric a., centring or centred in God; having God as its centre. theoˈcentrism, theocentric doctrine or belief, also (occas.) theoˈcentricism. theoˈchristic a. [Gr. θεόχριστ-ος], anointed by God (Webster 1864). ˌtheo-coˈllectivist, of the nature of collectivism as divinely instituted. ˌtheo-deˈmocracy, a democracy under divine rule. theo-ˈdrama, a drama in which the actors are gods. ˌtheogeoˈlogical a., of or pertaining to geology as accommodated to theological tenets. theoˈgnostic [after agnostic; cf. Gr. θεόγνωστος known of God], one who holds that God is knowable. theoˈhuman a., both divine and human; that is God as well as man. theoktonic (-ˈktɒnɪk) a., of or pertaining to theoktony. theoktony (θiːˈɒktənɪ) [Gr. θεοκτονία (Eccl.)], killing or death of the gods. theoˈmammonist (see quot.). theoˈmania [Gr. θεοµανία madness caused or inspired by God], religious mania; also, demonomania. theoˈmaniac, one affected with theomania. theoˈmastix [-mastix], the scourge of (i.e. appointed by) God. ˈtheometry [-metry], measurement or estimation of God. theomicrist (θiːˈɒmɪkrɪst) [Gr. µικρός little], one who belittles God. ˌtheomiˈsanthropist (nonce-wd., after theophilanthropist), one who hates God and man. theoˈmonism, a monism which recognizes God. theoˈpanphilist (see quot.). theoˈpantism [Gr. πᾶς, παντ- all], (a) see quot. 1864; (b) the doctrine that God is all that exists: = pantheism. ˈtheophile [Gr. θεοϕιλής dear to the gods], one beloved of God; also, one who loves God; so theˈophilist. ˌtheophiloˈsophic a., that applies philosophy to theology. theophoric (-ˈfɒrɪk), theophorous (θiːˈɒfərəs), adjs. [Gr. θεοϕόρος, f. ϕέρειν to bear], bearing or containing the name of a god. theoˈphysical a. nonce-wd., physical, but ordered by God. theoˈpsychism [Gr. ψυχή soul], ascription of a divine nature to the soul. theoˈtaurine a. [Gr. θεόταυρος god-bull, a title of Zeus], of or pertaining to a god in the form of a bull. ˌtheoteleˈology, the doctrine of the divine direction of nature to an appointed end; hence ˌtheoteleoˈlogical a.
| 1873 Fairbairn Stud. Philos. Relig. & Hist. (1876) 349 The Hellenic mind..created those *theo-anthropomorphic doctrines. |
| Ibid. 348 The one contributed the Monotheism, the other the *Theo-anthropomorphism, which lie at the basis of Christianity. |
| 1833 Fraser's Mag. VIII. 572 Their *theo-astrological mythologies, and their symbolical mysteries. |
| 1886 M. Valentine in Homilet. Rev. Oct. 283 The old *Theocentric Calvinism, in which every thing was made to revolve about the divine sovereignty. 1893 Fairbairn Christ in Mod. Theol. ii. i. 301 This theology must..be as regards source Christocentric, but as regards object or matter Theocentric. |
| 1925 E. Underhill Mystics of Church x. 205 The best traditions of French spirituality, its lofty *theocentricism. |
| 1930 Monument to St. Augustine viii. 272 The apparent *theocentrism of the Calvinist ‘glory of God’. 1941 Theocentrism [see anthropocentricism, anthropocentrism]. |
| 1901 Daily Chron. 30 Aug. 3/4 Massachusetts with its township government centreing round the church, its *theo-collectivist modes of thought. |
| 1830 Hist. Eur. in Ann. Reg. 244/2 The cajolery or intimidation..employed by the priests to make their flocks join the faction of (what one of them called) the *theo-democracy. 1853 F. Lieber Civil Liberty xxiv. 242 The Mormons themselves call their government a theo-democracy. |
| 1801 W. Taylor in Robberds Mem. I. 389 A *theo-drama or..an epic poem, where all the actors are gods. |
| 1852 R. Knox Gt. Artists & Gt. Anat. 43 A theory or two was forced on him [Cuvier] by the *theo-geological school of England, which were not his. |
| 1898 Chicago Advance 14 Apr. 491/3 Is man by..his powers..an Agnostic or a *Theo-gnostic? |
| 1839 Bailey Festus x. (1852) 139 Thou art and livest, man-god, Christ!.. The *Theohuman Being. |
| 1875 R. B. Anderson Norse Mythol. iii. 60 The Eddas have a *theoktonic myth. |
| Ibid., Ends with a *theoktony (death of the gods). |
| 1804 Coleridge Lett., to T. Poole (1895) 455 Such men I aptly christen *Theo-mammonists, that is, those who at once worship God and Mammon. |
| 1857 Dunglison Med. Lex., *Theomania, demonomania. 1890 Billings Nat. Med. Dict., Theomania, religious monomania. |
| 1863 C. Reade Hard Cash III. ii. 53 Dr. Wycherley..put down any man a lunatic, whose intellect was manifestly superior to his own... Nor did the dead escape him entirely. Pascal, according to Wycherley, was a madman with an illusion about a precipice... Joan of Arc a *theomaniac. 1879 Swinburne Stud. Shaks. iii. 214 The brutallest unwashed theomaniac of the Thebaid. |
| 1633 T. Carew Cœl. Brit. Wks. (1824) 154 My offices and title are, supreme *theomastix, hupercrittique of manners. |
| 1881 Rossetti Soothsay xii, The Power that fashions man Measured not out thy little span For thee to take the meting-rod In turn, and so approve on God Thy science of *Theometry. |
| 1834 De Quincey in Tait's Mag. I. 688 He had defended Christianity against the vile blasphemers and impotent *theomicrists of the day. |
| 1831 Southey in Q. Rev. Jan. 113 Those who (in reference to the appellation of a sect, not more presumptuous, and somewhat less impious) deserve to be called the *Theomisanthropists. |
| 1906 F. Ballard (title) *Theomonism True: God and the Universe in Modern Light. 1908 Daily News 7 Feb. 4/2 Mr. Ballard..calls it sometimes theism and sometimes theomonism. |
| 1833 Fraser's Mag. VIII. 570 The initiati called themselves *Theopanphilists, those who believed in the universal exhibition of the Divinity in characters of love. |
| 1864 N. West in Homilet. Rev. (1886) May 407 It is true to teach *Theopantism, or that God is in all things. 1873 Fairbairn Stud. Philos. Relig. & Hist. (1877) 392 It may evolve an Akosmism or Theopantism which is but the apotheosis of nature. |
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. xlii. 54 Afflictions are the portion of the best *Theophiles. |
| 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iii. 84 Virtuose persons..are *Theophilists, or beloved of God. 18.. Milman is cited by Worcester as using *theophilosophic. 1901 W. Macintosh Rabbi Jesus 182 With the dawn of Christianity the theophilosophic train of thought was carried onward and upward into a higher, nobler, purer channel. |
| 1891 Cheyne Orig. Psalter vi. 303 Such shortened forms of *theophoric names as Ahaz for Jehoahaz. |
| 1903 Expositor May 323 We are left for conjecture to the *theophorous names of her kings. 1908 Ibid. Jan. 95 Yahu..is familiar enough from Hebrew theophorous names. |
| 1775 Adair Amer. Ind. 129 By the time that this *theo-physical operation is performed on a patient [i.e. breaking his neck on pretence that it is the Divine will]. |
| 1896 Duke of Argyll Philos. Belief vi. 253 It may be said..that ‘*theopsychism’ attributed to man, is the real explanation of what is called the anthropomorphism attributed in the Hebrew scriptures to the mind and will of God. |
| 1814 Southey Lett. (1856) II. 368 When..prepared for the food of man, it..resembleth entirely in its appearance the *theo-taurine compost from whence it sprung. |
| 1903 L. F. Ward Pure Sociol. iii. xvi. 465 A doctrine that afterwards took the name of teleology,..would be better called *theoteleology, since it simply postulates a power outside of nature directing it toward some end. |
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Add:
theocentric a.: hence
theocenˈtricity n.| 1950 Scottish Jrnl. Theol. III. 3 At the outset of his argument the *theocentricity of Luther's approach becomes apparent. 1979 F. T. Griffiths Theocritus at Court 117 For the common man the theocentricity of this society supports the widening popular hopes for immortality. |