Cathar

[ kath-ahr ]
/ ˈkæθ ɑr /

noun, plural Cath·a·ri [kath-uh-rahy] /ˈkæθ əˌraɪ/, Cath·ars.

(in medieval Europe) a member of any of several rigorously ascetic Christian sects maintaining a dualistic theology.
Also called Cath·a·rist [kath-er-ist] /ˈkæθ ər ɪst/.

Origin of Cathar

1630–40; < Late Latin Catharī (plural) < Late Greek hoi Katharoí Novatians, literally, the pure; applied in ML to various sects

OTHER WORDS FROM Cathar

Cath·a·rism, noun Cath·a·ris·tic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for cathar

British Dictionary definitions for cathar

Cathar

Catharist (ˈkæθərɪst)

/ (ˈkæθə) /

noun plural -ars, -ari (-ərɪ) or -arists

a member of a Christian sect in Provence in the 12th and 13th centuries who believed the material world was evil and only the spiritual was good

Derived forms of Cathar

Catharism, noun

Word Origin for Cathar

from Medieval Latin Cathari, from Greek katharoi the pure