Manichaeism

Meaning

Proper Noun

• A syncretic, dualistic religion that combined elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Gnostic thought, founded by the Iranian prophet Mani in 3rd century AD.
• A dualistic philosophy dividing the world between good and evil principles, or regarding matter as intrinsically evil and mind as intrinsically good.

Origin

• From Latin Manichaeus + , from Classical Syriac ܡܐܢܝ ܚܝܐ, from the name of its founder, Mani, from Middle Persian, Classical Syriac ܡܐܢܝ (Modern Persian مانی) + Classical Syriac ܚܝܐ.