heresy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
  2. A controversial or unorthodox opinion held by a member of a group, as in politics, philosophy or science.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛɹəsi/ en-us-heresy.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-heresy.wav

Word forms

heresy heresies hæresy

Etymology

From Middle English heresie (Middle English her(esie) + -esy), from Old French heresie (modern hérésie), from Latin haeresis, from Ancient Greek αἵρεσις (haíresis, “choice, system of principles”), from αἱρέομαι (hairéomai, “to take for oneself, to choose”), the middle voice of αἱρέω (hairéō, “to take”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser-; see also Welsh herw (“theft, raid”), Ancient Greek στερέω (steréō, “to deprive of”).

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