Word of the Day April 3, 2020 [archive]

Princeton's WordNet

1. unorthodoxy, heterodoxy, heresy(noun)

   any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position

2. heresy, unorthodoxy(noun)

   a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion

Wiktionary

1. heresy(Noun)

   A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from Roman Catholic dogma.

2. heresy(Noun)

   A controversial or unorthodox opinion held by a member of a group, as in politics, philosophy or science.

Origin: From heresie (modern hérésie), from haeresis, from αἵρεσις, from αἱρέομαι, the middle voice of αἱρέω.

Webster Dictionary

1. Heresy(noun)

   an opinion held in opposition to the established or commonly received doctrine, and tending to promote a division or party, as in politics, literature, philosophy, etc.; -- usually, but not necessarily, said in reproach

2. Heresy(noun)

   religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy

3. Heresy(noun)

   an offense against Christianity, consisting in a denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained

Origin: [OE. heresie, eresie, OF. heresie, iresie, F. hrsie, L. haeresis, Gr. a taking, a taking for one's self, choosing, a choice, a sect, a heresy, fr. to take, choose.]

Freebase

1. Heresy

   Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs. Heresy is distinct from both apostasy, which is the explicit renunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion. Heresy is usually used to discuss violations of religious or traditional laws or legal codes, although it is used by some political extremists to refer to their opponents. It carries the connotation of behaviors or beliefs likely to undermine accepted morality and cause tangible evils, damnation, or other punishment. In Abrahamic religions, it also implies that the heretic is in alliance with the religion's symbol of evil, such as Satan or chaos. In certain historical Christian, Jewish, and some modern cultures, espousing ideas deemed heretical was punishable by law.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

1. Heresy

   her′e-si, n. the adoption and maintaining opinions contrary to the authorised teaching of the religious community to which one naturally belongs: an opinion adopted for one's self in opposition to the usual belief: heterodoxy.—ns. Heresiarch (her′e-si-ärk, or he-rē′zi-ärk), a leader in heresy, a chief among heretics; Heresiog′rapher, one who writes about heresies; Heresiog′raphy, a treatise on heresies; Heresiol′ogist, a student of, or writer on, heresies; Heresiol′ogy, the study or the history of heresies; Her′etic, the upholder of a heresy.—adj. Heret′ical.—adv. Heret′ically.—v.t. Heret′icate, to denounce as heretical. [O. Fr. heresie—L. hæresis—Gr. hairesis—hairein, to take.]

Suggested Resources

1. heresy

   Song lyrics by heresy -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by heresy on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce heresy?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say heresy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of heresy in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of heresy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of heresy in a Sentence

1. Eric Hoffer:

   A heresy can spring only from a system that is in full vigor.

2. Wieland:

   It is commonly a dangerous thing for a man to have more sense than his neighbours. Socrates paid for his superiority with his life; and if Aristotle saved his skin, accused as he was of heresy by the chief priest Eurymedon, it was because he took to his heels in time.

3. Elie Wiesel:

   The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.

4. John Milton:

   A man may be a heretic in the truth; and if he believe things only because his pastor says so, or the assembly so determines, without knowing other reason, though his belief be true, yet the very truth he holds becomes his heresy.

5. Chaim Fishman:

   I was getting into trouble for asking questions, we don’t talk with anyone; we believe once we start talking to other people, we will assimilate to their ways and lose our traditions. It’s heresy.

Images & Illustrations of heresy

• kettery, dwaalleer, dwaallereAfrikaans
• هرطقة, بدعةArabic
• ерасьBelarusian
• ересBulgarian
• heretgiaCatalan, Valencian
• kacířstvíCzech
• kætteriDanish
• Ketzerei, HäresieGerman
• αίρεσηGreek
• herezoEsperanto
• herejíaSpanish
• بدعت, ارتدادPersian
• kerettiläisyys, vääräoppisuus, vääräuskoisuus, harhaoppiFinnish
• hérésieFrench
• eiriceachtIrish
• विधर्मHindi
• eretnekségHungarian
• հերետիկոսությունArmenian
• bidat, aliran sesatIndonesian
• 異端, 邪教, 邪宗Japanese
• ಧರ್ಮದ್ರೋಹಿKannada
• heretikitangaMāori
• dwaalleer, ketterijDutch
• herezja, kacerstwoPolish
• heresiaPortuguese
• ересьRussian
• kätteriSwedish
• నాస్తికత్వంTelugu
• єресьUkrainian
• Dị giáoVietnamese
• häretVolapük