Jansenism

noun

Jan·​sen·​ism ˈjan(t)-sə-ˌni-zəm 

1

: a system of doctrine based on moral determinism, defended by various reformist factions among 17th and 18th century western European Roman Catholic clergy, religious, and scholars, and condemned as heretical by papal authority

2

: a puritanical attitude (as toward sex)

Jansenist

ˈjan(t)-sə-nist 

noun

Jansenistic

ˌjan(t)-sə-ˈni-stik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

French jansénisme, from Cornelis Jansen

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1