\Dog"ma\, n.; pl. E. {Dogmas}, L. {Dogmata}. [L. dogma,
Gr. ?, pl. ?, fr. ? to think, seem, appear; akin to L. decet
it is becoming. Cf. {Decent}.]
1. That which is held as an opinion; a tenet; a doctrine.
         The obscure and loose dogmas of early antiquity. --
                                               Whewell.
2. A formally stated and authoritatively settled doctrine; a
   definite, established, and authoritative tenet.
3. A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or
   truth; an arbitrary dictum.
Syn: tenet; opinion; proposition; doctrine.
Usage: -- {Dogma}, {Tenet}. A tenet is that which is
       maintained as true with great firmness; as, the tenets
       of our holy religion. A dogma is that which is laid
       down with authority as indubitably true, especially a
       religious doctrine; as, the dogmas of the church. A
       tenet rests on its own intrinsic merits or demerits; a
       dogma rests on authority regarded as competent to
       decide and determine. Dogma has in our language
       acquired, to some extent, a repulsive sense, from its
       carrying with it the idea of undue authority or
       assumption. This is more fully the case with its
       derivatives dogmatical and dogmatism.