bigotry

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(bĭg'ə-trē) pronunciation
n.
The attitude, state of mind, or behavior characteristic of a bigot; intolerance.


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noun

    Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion: intolerance, prejudice. See like/dislike.


n

Definition: intolerance, prejudice
Antonyms: broad-mindedness, fairness, liberality, open-mindedness, tolerance

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bigotry

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: The state of mind of a narrow-minded person who is intolerant of beliefs other than his or her own.

pronunciation They will tolerate no bigotry in the classroom.

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Quotes:

"A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side." - Joseph Addison

"Bigot, one who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain." - Ambrose Bierce

"Wisdom has never made a bigot, but learning has." - Josh Billings

"Bigotry dwarfs the soul by shutting out the truth." - Edwin Hubbel Chapin

"We call a man a bigot or a slave of dogma because he is a thinker who has thought thoroughly and to a definite end." - Gilbert K. Chesterton

"Those who believe in their truth -- the only ones whose imprint is retained by the memory of men -- leave the earth behind them strewn with corpses. Religions number in their ledgers more murders than the bloodiest tyrannies account for, and those whom humanity has called divine far surpass the most conscientious murderers in their thirst for slaughter." - E. M. Cioran

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to bigotry, see:

Bigotry is the state of mind of a "bigot", a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one who exhibits intolerance or animosity toward members of a group.[1] Bigotry may be based on real or perceived characteristics, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, region, language, religious or spiritual belief, personal habits, political alignment, age, economic status or disability. Bigotry is sometimes developed into an ideology or world view.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. described bigots with the following quote: "The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract."[2]

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Etymology

The origin of the word bigot and bigoterie (bigotry) in English dates back to at least 1598, via Middle French, and started with the sense of "religious hypocrite". The exact origin of the word is unknown, but it may have come from the German bei and Gott, or the English by God. William Camden wrote that the Normans were first called bigots, when their Duke Rollo, who when receiving Gisla, daughter of King Charles, in marriage, and with her the investiture of the dukedom, refused to kiss the king's foot in token of subjection – unless the king would hold it out for that specific purpose. When being urged to do it by those present, Rollo answered hastily "No, by God", whereupon the King, turning about, called him bigot, which then passed from him to his people.[3] This is quite probably fictional,[citation needed] as Gisla is unknown in Frankish sources. It is true, however, that the French used the term bigot to abuse the Normans.[4]

The twelfth century Anglo-Norman author Wace claimed that bigot was an insult which the French used against the Normans, but it is unclear whether or not this is how it entered the English language.[5]

According to Egon Friedell, "bigot" is of the same root as "Visigoth". In Vulgar Latin, the initial v transformed into b (a phenomenon today encountered in Iberian languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese; visi had truncated into bi in Vulgar Latin (a phenomenon common in French and Portuguese).

The French used to call the English les goddams after their favorite curse, Clément Janequin's "La Guerre"[6] which is about the Battle of Marignano, similarly uses the Swiss German curse 'bigot', i.e. "by god!", in a context about the Protestant Swiss.

See also

References

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition of Bigot and Bigotry.
  2. ^ Mark Blasius, Shane Phelan, We are everywhere: a historical sourcebook in gay and lesbian politics, Psychology Press, 1997, p. 745, ISBN 0-415-90859-0, ISBN 978-0-415-90859-7
  3. ^  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "article name needed". Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (first ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. 
    Bigot
  4. ^ Word Histories And Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2004. p. 24. ISBN 0-618-45450-0. 
  5. ^ Ayto, John (1990). Dictionary of Word Origins: The Histories of More Than 8,000 English-Language Words. Arcade Publishing. 
  6. ^ "La Guerre (La Bataille de Marignan) de Clément Janequin". Tard Bourrichon. http://www.tard-bourrichon.fr/musique%20JANEQUIN%20Bataille.html.  (French)

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