Duotheistic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or characterized by the belief in two distinct deities or gods coexisting within a religious framework
2. Pertaining to a theology or spiritual system that acknowledges and worships a pair of divine beings as central figures
3. Describing a faith or doctrine that centers on dual divine entities as the principal objects of reverence and devotion

Etymology: "Duotheistic" is a plain compound: the Latin prefix "duo-", meaning "two", joined to "theistic", the adjective from "theism", a belief in one or more gods. The prefix traces back through Latin "duo" to a very old Indo-European root meaning "two," the same root behind the English numeral "two" and related words such as "dual" and "duet." The word therefore describes a religious outlook or practice that centres on a pair of deities, such as a divine couple or two gods worshipped together. Its structure is transparent: the first element counts the gods, and the second names the kind of belief. Because "theistic" already means believing in a god or gods, "duotheistic" narrows that general category to belief in exactly two.

Synonyms: dualistic, two-god, ditheistic

Antonyms: monotheistic, polytheistic