Dictionary entries for 'catechize'

cat·e·chize (kăt́ĭ-kīź)

[Middle English catecizen, from Old French catechiser, from Medieval Latin catēchizāre, from Late Greek katēkhizein, from Greek katēkhein, kata-, down, off, out; see cata–, + ēkhein, to sound (from ēkhē, sound).]

transitive verb: -chized, -chiz·ing, -chiz·es.

To teach the principles of Christian dogma, discipline, and ethics by means of questions and answers.
To question or examine closely or methodically: “Boswell was eternally catechizing him on all kinds of subjects” (Thomas Macaulay)

derivatives

cat́e·chi·zátion: noun
cat́e·chiźer: noun

transitive verb: -chized, -chiz·ing, -chiz·es.

derivatives

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition