atheist, n. (and a.)
(ˈeɪθiːɪst)
Also 6 atheyst, 6–7 athist(e.
[a. F. athéiste (16th c. in Littré), or It. atheista: see prec. and -ist.]
A. n.
1. One who denies or disbelieves the existence of a God.
| [a 1568 Coverdale Hope of Faithf. Pref. Wks. II. 139 Eat we and drink we lustily; to-morrow we shall die: which all the epicures protest openly, and the Italian atheoi.] 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. Ep. Ded. 3 The Atheistes which say..there is no God. 1604 Rowlands Looke to it 23 Thou damned Athist..That doest deny his power which did create thee. 1709 Shaftesbury Charac. i. i. §2 (1737) II. 11 To believe nothing of a designing Principle or Mind, nor any Cause, Measure, or Rule of Things, but Chance..is to be a perfect Atheist. 1876 Gladstone in Contemp. Rev. June 22 By the Atheist I understand the man who not only holds off, like the sceptic, from the affirmative, but who drives himself, or is driven, to the negative assertion in regard to the whole Unseen, or to the existence of God. |
2. One who practically denies the existence of a God by disregard of moral obligation to Him; a godless man.
| 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. 63 The opinion which they conceaue of you, to be Atheists, or godlesse men. 1660 Stanley Hist. Philos. 323/2 An Atheist is taken two ways, for him who is an enemy to the Gods, and for him who believeth there are no Gods. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 495 When the Priest Turns Atheist, as did Ely's Sons. 1827 Hare Guesses Ser. i. (1873) 27 Practically every man is an atheist, who lives without God in the world. |
B. attrib. as adj. Atheistic, impious.
| 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 370 The Atheist crew. 1821 Lockhart Valerino II. xi. 316 Borne from its wounded breast an atheist cry Hath pierced the upper and the nether sky. |