Doctrinary

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A structured collection of beliefs that directs interpretations and decisions
2. Related to a system of principles or teachings that influence understanding or behavior
3. Concerning strong adherence to specific theoretical or ideological beliefs that guide actions

Etymology: "Doctrinary" is built from "doctrine," which came into English from Old French and ultimately from Latin "doctrina," meaning teaching or learning, from "doctor," a teacher. The ending "-ary," from Latin "-arius," turns the noun into an adjective meaning relating to or characterized by doctrine. The sense of rigid adherence to theory owes much to a French political group. During the Bourbon Restoration, a faction of French politicians known as the Doctrinaires favoured a middle course between royal absolutism and radical democracy, guided by fixed principles rather than practical compromise. Their critics mocked them for applying abstract theories too stiffly. The French term "doctrinaire" carried that mockery into English, and "doctrinary" now often suggests a stubborn insistence on theory over practical circumstances.

Synonyms: doctrinal, dogmatic, theoretical, prescriptive, academic

Antonyms: practical, experimental, empirical, observational, real-world