Zenonism, n.¹

zenonism
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zenonism_n1%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# Zenonismnoun1

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zenonism mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun Zenonism. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How is the noun Zenonism pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈziːnənɪz(ə)m/
ZEE-nuh-niz-uhm

#### U.S. English

/ˈzinəˌnɪzəm/
ZEE-nuh-niz-uhm

### Where does the noun Zenonism come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun Zenonism is in the late 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zenonism is from 1789, in a letter by Thomas Holcroft, writer.

From a proper name, combined with an English element.

Etymons: proper name Zēnōn, Zēnō, ‑ism suffix; proper name Ζήνων, ‑ism suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zenocentric, adj. 1911–
2. Zenocratically, adv. 1588
3. zenographic, adj. 1853–
4. zenographical, adj. 1853–
5. zenography, n. 1890–
6. Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹ 1654–
7. Zenonian, adj.² 1756–
8. Zenonian, adj.³ & n.² 1837–
9. Zenonic, adj.¹ 1779–
10. Zenonic, adj.² 1827–
11. Zenonism, n.¹1789–
12. Zenonism, n.² 1935–
13. zenzi-, comb. form
14. zenzic, n. & adj. 1557–71
15. zenzicube, adj. & n. 1557–1690
16. zenzicubic, adj. 1557–71
17. zenzicubicube, n. a1690
18. zenzizenzic, adj. & n. 1557–1690
19. zenzizenzicube, n. a1690
20. zenzizenzicubic, adj. a1690
21. zenzizenzizenzic, n. 1557–1690

## Etymology

### Summary

From a proper name, combined with an English element.
Etymons: proper name Zēnōn, Zēnō, ‑ism suffix; proper name Ζήνων, ‑ism suffix.
< either classical Latin Zēnōn (also Zēnō) or its etymon ancient Greek Ζήνων, the name of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium (see Zenonian adj.1) + ‑ism suffix.

Compare earlier Zenonian adj.1, and later Zenonic adj.2…
< either classical Latin Zēnōn (also Zēnō) or its etymon ancient Greek Ζήνων, the name of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium (see Zenonian adj.1) + ‑ism suffix.

Compare earlier Zenonian adj.1, and later Zenonic adj.2

### Notes

In quot. 1789 after French zénonisme (1759 in the passage translated in quot. 1789).
Compare earlier Zenonist:

1. 1663

   > The Stoiques, or Zenonists, whom their Master taught in a Porch.

   E. Waterhouse, Fortescutus Illustratus 59

## Meaning & use

1. 1789–
   The philosophy of Zeno of Citium (335–263 b.c.); Stoicism.
   1. 1789

      > I have, since the war, served an apprenticeship to Zenonism [French zénonisme].

      T. Holcroft, translation of King Frederick II, Letter in translation of King Frederick II, Posthumous Works vol. X. xxxiv. 97
   2. 1866

      > Zenonism, the philosophy of Zeno, the celebrated Greek philosopher, founder of the Stoics.

      R. S. Charnock, Verba Nominalia 343
   3. 2013

      > It was originally called ‘Zenonism’ but came to be known as ‘Stoicism’.

      D. Robertson, Stoicism & Art of Happiness (Electronic edition) i
   philosophy
   1. porch?a1425–
      Ancient Greek History. A public ambulatory in the agora of ancient Athens, in which the philosopher Zeno of Citium and his disciples met. Hence also…
   2. portico 1579–
      Ancient Greek Philosophy. The colonnade in the agora of ancient Athens, where the Stoic philosophers met (cf. porch, n. 2, and stoa, n.); (hence)…
   3. stoicism 1626–
      (With capital initial.) The philosophy of the Stoics.
   4. porticus a1682–1750
      Ancient Greek Philosophy. The colonnade in the agora in ancient Athens, where the Stoic philosophers met; (hence) a forum for philosophical thought…
   5. stoicalness 1727–
   6. Zenonism 1789–
      The philosophy of Zeno of Citium (335–263 b.c.); Stoicism.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈziːnənɪz(ə)m/
ZEE-nuh-niz-uhm

### U.S. English

/ˈzinəˌnɪzəm/
ZEE-nuh-niz-uhm

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

Originally published as part of the entry for Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹

Zenonism, n.¹ was revised in June 2018.

Zenonism, n.¹ was last modified in September 2024.