heresy
[ her-uh-see ]
/ ˈhɛr ə si /
noun, plural her·e·sies.
opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.
the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine.
Roman Catholic Church.
the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church.
any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc.
Origin of heresy
1175–1225; Middle English
heresie < Old French
eresie < Latin
haeresis school of thought, sect < Greek
haíresis, literally, act of choosing, derivative of
haireîn to choose
OTHER WORDS FROM heresy
su·per·her·e·sy, noun, plural su·per·her·e·sies.Words nearby heresy
heresimach,
heresiography,
heresiologist,
heresiology,
heresthetic,
heresy,
heretic,
heretical,
hereto,
heretofore,
hereunder
Example sentences from the Web for heresy
British Dictionary definitions for heresy
heresy
/ (ˈhɛrəsɪ) /
noun plural -sies
- an opinion or doctrine contrary to the orthodox tenets of a religious body or church
- the act of maintaining such an opinion or doctrine
any opinion or belief that is or is thought to be contrary to official or established theory
belief in or adherence to unorthodox opinion
Word Origin for heresy
C13: from Old French
eresie, from Late Latin
haeresis, from Latin: sect, from Greek
hairesis a choosing, from
hairein to choose