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Webster 1913 Edition


Heretic

Her′e-tic

,
Noun.
[L.
haereticus
, Gr. [GREEK] able to choose, heretical, fr. [GREEK] to take, choose: cf. F.
hérétique
. See
Heresy
.]
1.
One who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary to the established faith or prevailing religion.
A man that is an
heretic
, after the first and second admonition, reject.
Titus iii. 10.
A heretic is one whose errors are doctrinal, and usually of a malignant character, tending to subvert the true faith. A schismatic is one who creates a schism, or division in the church, on points of faith, discipline, practice, etc., usually for the sake of personal aggrandizement. A sectarian is one who originates or is an ardent adherent and advocate of a sect, or distinct organization, which separates from the main body of believers.

Webster 1828 Edition


Heretic

HER'ETIC

, n.
1.
A person under any religion, but particularly the christian, who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy. In strictness, among christians, a person who holds and avows religious opinions contrary to the doctrines of Scripture, the only rule of faith and practice.
2.
Any one who maintains erroneous opinions.

Definition 2024


heretic

heretic

See also: herètic

English

Alternative forms

Noun

heretic (plural heretics)

  1. Someone who, in the opinion of others, believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion he claims to belong to.
    • 1974, Thomas S. Szasz, M.D., chapter 11, in The Myth of Mental Illness, ISBN 0-06-091151-4, page 197:
      In the framework of traditional medical ethics, the patient
      deserves humane attention only insofar as he is potentially
      healthy and is willing to be healthy—just as in the framework
      of traditional Christian ethics, the heretic deserved humane
      attention only insofar as he was potentially a true believer and
      was willing to become one. In the one case, people are
      accepted as human beings only because they might be healthy
      citizens; in the other, only because they might be faithful
      Christians. In short, neither was heresy formerly, nor is sick-
      ness now, given the kind of humane recognition which, from
      the point of view of an ethic of respect and tolerance, they
      deserve.

Synonyms

Translations

Adjective

heretic (comparative more heretic, superlative most heretic)

  1. (archaic) Heretical; of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.

Antonyms

Translations

Related terms

Anagrams


Scots

Etymology

See heresy.

Noun

heretic (plural heretics)

  1. heretic
  2. (literary style) A poet who claims to have no religion, or to disdain one.
    He's as puir as the heretic baird.