Dechristianises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Strips the Christian faith, values and institutions out of a nation, community or culture so that they no longer shape its public life
2. Removes the religious influence of Christianity from a society, its laws, schools and customs until it becomes secular
3. Makes a people or institution no longer Christian in belief, practice or public character by stripping away its religious foundations

Etymology: "Dechristianises" is the third-person singular present form of "dechristianise," a verb meaning to remove the Christian character, influence or institutions from a society, place or person. The verb is built from the prefix "de-," which reverses or removes, the noun "Christian," and the suffix "-ise," which turns a noun or adjective into a verb. Its logic is therefore literal: to "dechristianise" is to take the Christianity out of something. The form is a clear example of how English builds verbs on the fly from existing parts. Each element was already familiar, and combining them gives a precise meaning without needing a separate traditional word. The verb is used mainly in historical and political writing about societies that have moved away from Christian religious practice or from state links with the church.

Synonyms: secularises, secularizes, deconsecrates

Antonyms: christianises, christianizes