heretic
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)heretics
- a person who holds religious beliefs in conflict with the dogma of the Roman Catholic ChurchSynonyms: misbelieverreligious outcastType of outcast, castaway
- a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)Type of nonconformist, recusant
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. haereticus, Gr. … able to choose, heretical, fr. … 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.
2. Roman Catholic Church One who having made a profession of Christian belief, deliberately and pertinaciously refuses to believe one or more of the articles of faith “determined by the authority of the universal church.” William E., and Arnold, Thomas. Addis
Synonyms: Heretic, Schismatic, Sectarian. 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’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54