ATHEISM

atheism

(noun) a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

atheism (usually uncountable, plural atheisms)

(narrowly) Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).

(broadly) Rejection of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist).

(very broadly) Absence of belief that any deities exist (including absence of the concept of deities).

(historical) Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities).

Usage notes

The term atheism may refer either to

• (rejection of belief): an explicit rejection of belief, with or without a denial that any deities exist (explicit atheism),

• (absence of belief): an absence of belief in the existence of any deities (weak atheism or soft atheism),

• (affirmative belief): an explicit belief that no gods exist (strong atheism or hard atheism).

Anagrams

• Hamites, hamites, has time, meatish, theaism

Source: Wiktionary

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A"the*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. athéisme. See Atheist.]

1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being. Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. R. Hall. Atheism and pantheism are often wrongly confounded. Shipley.

2. Godlessness.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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