English

Noun

anythingarian ‎(plural anythingarians)

1. (derogatory, religion) A person who does not profess any particular creed; an indifferentist.
   • ante 1704, The Works of Tom Brown, volume 3, page 97

     Such bifarious anythingarians, that always make their interest the standard of their religion.

   • 1738, Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation, dialogue 1

     Lady Smart. What Religion is he of?
     Ld. Sparkiſh. Why he is an Anythingarian.
     Lady Anſw. I believe, he has his Religion to chuſe, my Lord.

   • 1850, Charles Kingsley, Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet, chapter 22

     They made puir Robbie Burns an anythingarian with their blethers.

Derived terms

• anythingarianism (rare)

Translations

References

• “anythingarian” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, second edition (1989)
• Eric Partridge’s Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, seventh edition