[cat.e.chism] n (1502) 1: oral instruction
2: a manual for catechizing; specif: a summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers 3 a: a set of formal questions put as a test b: something resembling a catechism esp. in being a rote response or formulaic statement -- cat.e.chis.mal adj -- cat.e.chis.tic adj