MANICHAEAN

[Dr. Goodword]

• Manichaean •

Pronunciation: mæ-nê-kee-ên • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun and Adjective

Meaning: 1. A devotee of Manichaeaism, a religion created by a Persian prophet, Mani (210-276 CE), by combining Zoroastrian and Christian principles. The basic principle of this religion is that the world is a struggle between good and evil, the soul and matter. It became widely popular for about a millennium but did not survive much beyond that. 2. A person who believes in the dualism that the world is divided into good and evil.

Notes: English offers quite a bit of latitude in spelling today's word. Manichean is also acceptable and a person who believes in Manichaeaism may also be called simply a Manichee. Remember, whichever variant you use, the CH is always pronounced [k] and this word is still capitalized.

In Play: This Good Word today refers to people who think the world is divided cleanly into good and evil with no gray areas: "Don't waste your time explaining yourself to a Manichaean like Lyda Cain; she either loves your or hates you and nothing will change her mind." Whenever your options boil down to a choice between good and evil you will find room for today's word: "Heathcliff is faced with the Manichaean decision of whether to marry Lady Mondegreen or abandon her heavy with child."

Word History: English acquired this word from 4th-century Latin Manichaeus, an adaptation of Byzantine Greek Manichaios "Manichaean". The Greeks took the word from the name of Mani which they converted into Manis, a common name for slaves, and then to Manichaios, allegedly to avoid any confusion of Mani and mania. (We are grateful that Dr. Lyn Laboriel has something of a mania for Good Words like today's and periodically brings them to our attention.)

[Slava]

Though most likely not all that much has really changed, it does rather often of late seem that our political discourse has become much more Manichean.

PS: I like Lady Mondegreen. Good one.