Manichaeism n 1: a religion founded by Manes in the third century; a synthesis of Zoroastrian dualism between light and dark and Babylonian folklore and Buddhist ethics and superficial elements of Christianity; spread widely in the Roman Empire but had largely died out by 1000 [syn: {Manichaeism}, {Manichaeanism}]
Manichaeism \Man"i*chae*ism\, Manicheism \Man"i*che*ism\, n. [Cf. F. manich['e]isme.] The doctrines taught, or system of principles maintained, by the Manichaeans. [1913 Webster]