Word of the Day, July 29: 'Parochial'

Word of the Day: PAROCHIAL
Pronunciation: UK /pəˈrəʊ.ki.əl/ or US /pəˈroʊ.ki.əl/

Meaning:

'Parochial' means having a limited, narrow, or local outlook, often because of a lack of exposure to broader ideas, cultures, or experiences.

Example for daily usage:

• His parochial views made it difficult for him to appreciate other cultures.
• The school was originally established as a parochial institution run by the church.

Origin and history:

The word 'parochial' originates from the Greek word 'paroikia' (meaning 'sojourning' or 'temporary residence') and the Late Latin parochia.

Historically tied to church parishes, it has evolved into a metaphor for mentalities that are strictly local, provincial, and narrow-minded.

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Cultural significance and modern usage:

In the 19th century, the cultural use expanded. Because local parishes often fostered insular communities, the term became a descriptor for an outlook that extends no further than one's immediate surroundings.

Culturally, being called "parochial" is generally a negative descriptor. It highlights a failure to see the "big picture" and indicates an attitude that resists outside influences, diverse perspectives, or global

Interesting facts:

• 'Parochial' originally had no negative meaning; it simply referred to a church parish.
• The term 'parochial school' is still widely used in countries like the United States to describe schools operated by churches.

Examples from literature:

1. He had inched him up through back alleys and smaller races, bypassing the nationally spotlighted races in favour of slow cultivation and parochial seclusion. Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
2. Most of the students were children of immigrant Jews who preferred to regard themselves as having been emancipated from the fenced-off ghetto mentality typical of the other Jewish parochial schools in Brooklyn. - The Chosen by Chaim Potok
3. I looked back on that young man who had left Mqhekezweni as a naive and parochial fellow who had seen very little of the world. - Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
4. Every Orthodox Jew sent his male children to a yeshiva, a Jewish parochial school, where they studied from eight or nine in the morning to four or five in the evening. - The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Synonyms

• Small
• Petty
• Narrow
• Insular
• Provincial
• Sectarian
• Little

Antonyms:

• Liberal
• Catholic
• Cosmopolitan
• Open
• Receptive
• Tolerant

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