Her"e*tic (?), n. [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. (R. C. Ch.) 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." Addis &
Arnold.
Syn. -- 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.
