Cat"e*chism (?), n. [L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise.]
1.
A form of instruction by means of questions answers.
2.
A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers.
The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms.
Hooker.
The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.
© Webster 1913.