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counterreformation

noun coun·ter·ref·or·ma·tion \ ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌre-fər-ˈmā-shən , ˌkau̇n-tə-ˌre-fər-ˈmā-shən \

Definition of counterreformation

1 usually Counter-Reformation : the reform movement in the Roman Catholic Church following the Reformation
2 : a reformation designed to counter the effects of a previous reformation

First Known Use of counterreformation

1840

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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