heresy
pronunciation
How to pronounce heresy in British English:
UK [ˈherəsi]
How to pronounce heresy in American English:
US [ˈherəsi]
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- Noun:
- any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position
- a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
Word Origin
- heresy
- heresy: [13] Etymologically, a heresy is a ‘choice’ one makes. The word comes ultimately from Greek haíresis ‘choice’, a derivative of hairein ‘take, choose’. This was applied metaphorically to a ‘course of action or thought which one chooses to take’, hence to a particular ‘school of thought’, and ultimately to a ‘faction’ or ‘sect’. The word passed into Latin as haeresis, which early Christian writers used for ‘unorthodox sect or doctrine’, and thence via Vulgar Latin *heresia and Old French heresie into English. (Another derivative of hairein, incidentally, was diairein ‘divide’, from which English gets diaeresis [17].)=> diaeresis
- heresy (n.)
- "an opinion of private men different from that of the catholick and orthodox church" [Johnson], c. 1200, from Old French heresie (12c.), from Latin hæresis, "school of thought, philosophical sect," used by Christian writers for "unorthodox sect or doctrine," from Greek hairesis "a taking or choosing, a choice," from haireisthai "take, seize," middle voice of hairein "to choose," of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE *ser- (5) "to seize" (cognates: Hittite šaru "booty," Welsh herw "booty"). The Greek word was used in the New Testament in reference to the Sadducees, Pharisees, and even the Christians, as sects of Judaism, but in English bibles it usually is translated sect. Meaning "religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrines of the Church" evolved in Late Latin. Transferred (non-religious) use from late 14c.
Example
- 1. Today the concept of " heresy " still means something .
- 2. Eg. it is vain to attempt to root out heresy by force .
- 3. This is scientific heresy : the received wisdom is that any level of radiation causes harm and high doses result in cancer and death .
- 4. This year the ecb has begun to look bolder : it may yet go further as the failure of self-defeating austerity budgets turns yesterday 's inflationary heresy into tomorrow 's logical answer .
- 5. This is not an unheard-of view among environmentalists , and at times mr lynas 's protestations of heresy can seem a trifle self-serving .