heretic
Etymology

From Middle English heretyk, heretike, from Old French eretique, from Medieval Latin - or el. haereticus, from Ancient Greek αἱρετικός, itself from Ancient Greek αἱρέω.

Pronunciation
  • (noun) (America) IPA: /ˈhɛɹɪtɪk/
Noun

heretic (plural heretics)

  1. Someone whose beliefs are contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to.
    • c. 1503–1512, John Skelton, Ware the Hauke; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC ↗, page 62, lines 17–19:
      He semeth a sysmatyke
      Or els an heretike,
      For fayth in hym is faynte.
  2. (by extension) Someone who does not conform to generally accepted beliefs or practices.
Synonyms Translations Adjective

heretic

  1. (archaic) Heretical; of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.
    Antonyms: orthodox
Related terms


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