[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

schism \schism\, n. oe. scisme, of. cisme, scisme, f. schisme,
   l. schisma, gr. schi`sma, fr. schi`zein to split; akin to l.
   scindere, skr. chid, and prob. to e. shed, v.t. which see;
   cf. rescind, schedule, zest.
   division or separation; specifically eccl., permanent
   division or separation in the christian church; breach of
   unity among people of the same religious faith; the offense
   of seeking to produce division in a church without
   justifiable cause.
   1913 webster

         set bounds to our passions by reason, to our errors by
         truth, and to our schisms by charity.    --eikon
                                                  basilike.
   1913 webster

   greek schism eccl., the separation of the greek and roman
      churches.

   great schism, or western schism eccl. a schism in the
      roman church in the latter part of the 14th century, on
      account of rival claimants to the papal throne.

   schism act law, an act of the english parliament
      requiring all teachers to conform to the established
      church, -- passed in 1714, repealed in 1719.
      1913 webster
see also:
rescind schedule zest greek schism great schism western schism 
schism act 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

schism
     n : division of a group into opposing factions; "another schism
         like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy" syn: split
see also:
split 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

67 moby thesaurus words for "schism":
   affiliation, alienation, apostasy, betrayal, body, bolt, branch,
   breach, breach of friendship, break, breakaway, chasm, church,
   cleavage, cleft, communion, community, defection, denomination,
   dereliction, deserter, desertion, disaffection, disfavor,
   disruption, dissent, dissidence, disunion, disunity, divergence,
   dividedness, division, estrangement, faction, falling-out,
   fellowship, fissure, fracture, group, heterodoxy, misbelief,
   nonconformism, nonconformity, offshoot, open rupture, order,
   organization, party, persuasion, ratting, recall of ambassadors,
   religious order, rent, rift, rupture, school, secession, sect,
   sectarism, segment, separation, society, split, unorthodoxy,
   variety, version, walkout

[4] : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

schism
   a separation, an alienation causing divisions among christians,
   who ought to be united 1 cor. 12:25.
   

Schism >> S Words
Schism, definition of term: Schism
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Great Schism >> G Words
Great Schism, definition of term: Great Schism
great+schism_pag1.html