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Webster 1913 Edition

Heresy

Her′e-sy

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Heresies
(#)
.
[OE.
heresie
,
eresie
, OF.
heresie
,
iresie
, F.
hérésie
, L.
haeresis
, Gr. [GREEK] a taking, a taking for one’s self, choosing, a choice, a sect, a heresy, fr. [GREEK] to take, choose.]
1.
An opinion held in opposition to the established or commonly received doctrine, and tending to promote a division or party, as in politics, literature, philosophy, etc.; – usually, but not necessarily, said in reproach.
New opinions
Divers and dangerous, which are
heresies
,
And, not reformed, may prove pernicious.
Shakespeare
After the study of philosophy began in Greece, and the philosophers, disagreeing amongst themselves, had started many questions . . . because every man took what opinion he pleased, each several opinion was called a
heresy
; which signified no more than a private opinion, without reference to truth or falsehood.
Hobbes.
2.
(Theol.)
Religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy.
Doubts 'mongst divines, and difference of texts,
From whence arise diversity of sects,
And hateful
heresies
by God abhor'd.
Spenser.
Deluded people! that do not consider that the greatest
heresy
in the world is a wicked life.
Tillotson.
3.
(Law)
An offense against Christianity, consisting in a denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained.
A second offense is that of
heresy
, which consists not in a total denial of Christianity, but of some its essential doctrines, publicly and obstinately avowed.
Blackstone.
☞ “When I call dueling, and similar aberrations of honor, a moral heresy, I refer to the force of the Greek [GREEK], as signifying a principle or opinion taken up by the will for the will's sake, as a proof or pledge to itself of its own power of self-determination, independent of all other motives.”
Coleridge.

Webster 1828 Edition

Heresy

HER'ESY

,
Noun.
[Gr. to take, to hold; L. haeresis.]
1.
A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion. But in countries where there is an established church, an opinion is deemed heresy, when it differs from that of the church. The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy; but as men differ in the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of christians,may be deemed orthodox by another. In Scripture and primitive usage,heresy meant merely sect, party, or the doctrines of a sect, as we now use denomination or persuasion, implying no reproach.
2.
Heresy, in law, is an offense against christianity, consisting in a denial of some of its essential doctrines, publicly avowed and obstinately maintained.
3.
An untenable or unsound opinion or doctrine in politics.

Definition 2024

heresy

heresy

English

Alternative forms

Noun

heresy ‎(plural heresies)

  1. (religion) A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from Roman Catholic dogma.
    • 1968, History of Western Civilization, edited by Heyes, Baldwin & Cole, p.47. Macmillan. Library of Congress 67–13596
      Heresy meant deliberate departure from the accepted doctrines of the church. It was intellectual and spiritual dissent and concerned the beliefs of Christianity, not the morals of its adherents.
  2. A controversial or unorthodox opinion held by a member of a group, as in politics, philosophy or science.

Related terms

Translations

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.P. Mallory and D.Q. Adams, Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture (London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999), 543.

Etymology

From Old French heresie (modern hérésie), from Latin haeresis, from Ancient Greek αἵρεσις ‎(haíresis, “choice, system of principles”), from αἱρέομαι ‎(hairéomai, “to take for one’s self, to choose”), the middle voice of αἱρέω ‎(hairéō, “to take”), from Proto-Indo-European *ster-; see also Welsh herw ‎(“theft, raid”), Ancient Greek στερέω ‎(steréō, “to deprive of”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛɹəsi/

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