apocalypticism
|a-poc-a-lyp-ti-cism|
🇺🇸
/əˌpɑkəˈlɪptɪˌsɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/əˌpɒkəˈlɪptɪˌsɪzəm/
belief in revelation of an end
Etymology
'apocalypticism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apokalypsis,' where 'apo-' meant 'away' and 'kalyptō' (related) meant 'to cover' (so 'apokalypsis' meant 'uncovering' or 'revelation').
'apocalypticism' entered English via Late Latin 'apocalypticus' and Medieval/Modern Latin 'apocalypsis' and the adjective 'apocalyptic'; the noun 'apocalypticism' developed later in English to denote the ideology or movement.
Initially, the root meant 'uncovering' or 'revelation'; over time it came to be associated specifically with revelations about the end times and thus evolved into the current meaning of 'belief in impending apocalypse or cataclysmic transformation.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the belief, doctrine, or movement that emphasizes a coming end of the world or a cataclysmic transformation of human history (end-times belief).
Apocalypticism surged in the region after a series of natural disasters, influencing politics and social behavior.
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Noun 2
a tendency to interpret current events as signs of impending doom or global catastrophe (figurative usage).
His writing is marked by apocalypticism, framing routine political changes as preludes to collapse.
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Noun 3
scholarly or theological interest in apocalyptic literature, prophecy, and eschatological frameworks.
The university hosted a conference on apocalypticism in ancient texts and their modern interpretations.
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Last updated: 2025/09/18 23:42