proselytismn.
/ˈprɒsᵻlᵻtɪz(ə)m/, /ˈprɒsl̩ᵻtɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈprɑs(ə)ləˌtɪz(ə)m/ 1. The fact or condition of becoming or being a proselyte; conversion.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > preaching > proselytization > [noun] > one who undergoes > fact of being or becoming
proselytism1649
1649 H. Hammond Christians Obligations v. 118 Spiritual Proselytisme, to which the Iew was wont to be wash'd, as the Christian is baptized.
1683 G. Hickes Case Infant-baptism 59 Capable of Proselytism, or entring into the Covenant after the Jewish manner.
1737 T. Morgan Moral Philosopher 56 The Council..did not think fit to discharge the Jews upon their Proselytism from any of those [Mosaick] ceremonial Laws.
1823 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. V. 364 The converts laboured to diffuse the new light with all the fervour of proselytism.
1882 Cent. Mag. Apr. 895/2 If proselytism be the supremest joy of mankind, New England ought to be supremely happy.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 289/1 [Aethelberht] seems to have acted with prudence and moderation during the conversion of his kingdom and did not countenance compulsory proselytism.
1997 Moment (Nexis) 30 Apr. 42 Jewish proselytism persevered and continued until Christianity took over the Roman empire.
2. The practice of proselytizing; the making or seeking of converts; proselytizing zeal.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > preaching > proselytization > [noun]
proselyting1654
proselytism1737
proselytation1830
proselytization1870
1737 P. Skelton Proposals for Revival Christianity 28 Even in a Democratical State..the Supreme Magistrate..may be possessed with a Spirit of Proselytism, and employ his Power to advance his own Religion, and oppress those of other People.
1763 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1825) VIII. lxxi. 290 Such was his zeal for proselytism, that..he plainly stopped not at toleration and equality.
1865 T. Marsden Sacr. Steps Creation 113 One is induced to ask, whether Uniformitarianism be mere Proselytism in the garb of Philosophy.
1870 Daily News 16 Apr. If any religionists..persist in making day schools engines of proselytism.
1932 E. A. Powell Undiscovered Europe vii. 190 The spirit of proselytism ran strong in the Europe of the Dark Ages.
1975 R. Howard tr. E. M. Cioran Short Hist. Decay i. 3 There is no form of intolerance, of proselytism or ideological intransigence which fails to reveal the bestial substratum of enthusiasm.
2004 New Republic 15 Nov. 31/1 European scholars, confronted on all sides with the twin rewards of imperial colonization and Christian proselytism, took up the idea [of invading Asia] and ran with it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1649