noun pl. dogmas -·mas or dogmata -·mata (-mə tə)

1. a doctrine; tenet; belief
2. doctrines, tenets, or beliefs, collectively
3. a positive, arrogant assertion of opinion
4. Eccles. a doctrine or body of doctrines formally and authoritatively affirmed

Etymology: L, an opinion, that which one believes (in LL(Ec), a decree, order) < Gr, opinion, judgment < dokein, to seem: see decent