Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dogma \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.

Source : WordNet®

dogmata
     See {dogma}

dogma
     n 1: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without
          proof [syn: {tenet}]
     2: a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative; "he
        believed all the Marxist dogma"
     [also: {dogmata} (pl)]