Etymograph

English

schism

Schism comes from Middle English scisme.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scisme
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2014schism

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scisme
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2014schism

Earliest quotation: 2014, Zoe Alderton, MDPI: “Despite personal schisms and differences in spiritual experience, there…”

The story

This word was historically pronounced /ˈsɪzəm/ (and still is among the clergy); the pronunciations /ˈʃɪzəm/, /ˈskɪzəm/ are due to the spelling (the latter may have been reinforced by learned influence); compare schedule.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *skeyd- ‘to divide, split’

shit, rescind, rescission, 25 more

through Proto-Indo-European *skid-yé-ti

schedule, 7 more

through Ancient Greek σχίζω ‘I split’

zest, 5 more

Today it means

noun A split or separation within a group or organization, typically caused by discord.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle English scisme / schism

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