Meanings
alternative Brahmenism · alternative Brahminism
- The principles and religious practice of the Brahmins, aspects of Hinduism as practiced by the Brahmin caste of India.
- The conduct or attitudes ascribed to the social or cultural elite within a given society.
I am sorry to say that I have found it uphill and exasperating work trying to impose Joyce on such “intellectual” people, or people whose opinion carries weight as I know, in London. … There is a strong body of critical Brahminism, destructive and conservative in temper, which will not have Joyce.
July 9, 1919, letter from T.S. Eliot to John Quinn
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe religious beliefs of ancient India as prescribed in the sacred Vedas and Brahmanas and Upanishads
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From brahman + -ism or brahmin + -ism. Introduced in 1816 as Brahmenism by George S. Faber (OED).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish brahmalaisuus, brahmalaisuus
- brahmalaisuusprinciples and religious practice of Brahmins
- brahmalaisuusVedic ritualism
Cite this entry
Brahmanism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brahmanism
“Brahmanism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brahmanism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Brahmanism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brahmanism.
Source: Brahmanism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.