nonconformist
(nɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst)
[non- 2.]
1. a. (Usually with capital N.) Orig. in the early part of the 17th century, one who, while adhering to the doctrine of the Church of England, refused to conform to its discipline and practice (chiefly in the matter of certain ceremonies). Now Hist. b. Later, esp. after the passing of the Act of Uniformity of 1662 and the consequent ejection from their livings of those ministers who refused to conform, a member of a religious body which is separated from the Church of England; in modern use, usually = Protestant Dissenter.
The term has been sometimes applied analogically to the Puritan section of the Church of England in the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth.
| 1619 T. Morton (title), A Defence of The Innocencie of the three Ceremonies of the Church of England, viz. The Surplice, Crosse after Baptisme, and Kneeling at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament. Diuided into two Parts. In the former whereof the Generall Arguments vrged by the Non-conformists..are answered. 1634 Canne Necess. Separ. To Rdr., There is not ten of an hundred which separate from the Church of England, but are moved first thereto..by the Doctrines of the Nonconformists. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. vii. xvi. §30. 406 Three Classes of Non⁓conformists:..1. Antient Non-conformists, here in King Edward's daies... 2. Middle Non-conformists, in the end of Queene Elizabeth and beginning of King James... 3. Modern Non-conformists. 1662 Petty Taxes 7 Pecuniary mulcts such as every Conscientious Non-conformist would gladly pay. 1665 Act 17 Chas. II, c. 2 (title), An Act for restraining Non-Conformists from inhabiting in Corporations. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 125, I suppose the Nonconformists value themselves tho upon their Conscience and not their numbers. 1732 Neal Hist. Purit. I. 57 The Garments were continued which soon after divided the Reformers among themselves, and gave rise to the two parties of Conformists and Non-conformists. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 6 That salvation might be found in the Church of Rome..was admitted by all divines of the Anglican communion and by the most illustrious Non⁓conformists. 1885 Ch. Quart. XXI. 126 Cartwright was a Nonconformist, not a Separatist; he hated schism as much as episcopacy. |
c. gen. One who does not conform to the doctrine or discipline of an established church.
| 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 74 Which of these two [sc. Guelphs and Ghibellines] were the Nonconformists in those dayes. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. iv. 51 Non-conformists are of two sorts: first, such as absent themselves from the divine worship in the established church, through total irreligion. 1837 Lockhart Scott I. 205 Andrew Macdonald..then officiated as minister to a small congregation of Episcopalian nonconformists. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 82/1 The nonconformists [in Russia] enjoying, as a rule, a greater degree of prosperity than their Orthodox neighbours. |
2. One who does not conform to a particular practice or course of action.
| a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1700) III. ix. 94 Is it just..that I should be a Non-conformist either in publick sorrow or joy? a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 57 They are State-Recusants, politic Nonconformists, that..cannot comply with the present Government. 1685 Crowne Sir C. Nice ii. Wks. 1874 III. 277 He..comes hither hourly to perform his devotions to me, but in such a slovenly manner; 'tis such a non-conformist to all decent ceremonies. 1952 [see feather-bedding vbl. n.]. |
3. attrib. or as adj. Nonconforming; pertaining to or characteristic of Nonconformists. Esp. in phr. nonconformist conscience.
| 1641 R. Brooke Eng. Episc. 90 The Church of England hath three maine Divisions: the Conformist, the Non-Conformist and the Separatist. 1669 Whitehead (title), The Glory of Christ's Light within expelling Darkness; being the sun of the controversie between the..Quakers, and some Non-conformist Priests. 1752 Carte Hist. Eng. III. 422 These non-conformist ministers were desirous to justify their conduct by the opinions of foreign divines. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. 2 How are the nonconformist Children to be provided for? 1890 Let. in Times 28 Nov. 8/6 The minimum demand of the great Nonconformist party is the..abdication of Mr. Parnell... Nothing less will satisfy the Nonconformist conscience now. 1890 Times 28 Nov. 8/6 The minimum demand of the great Nonconformist party is the unconditional abdication of Mr. Parnell, and his immediate retirement from Parliamentary life... Nothing less will satisfy the Nonconformist conscience. 1893 O. Wilde Lady Windermere's Fan iii. 90 There is nothing in the whole world so unbecoming to a woman as a Nonconformist conscience. 1894 Beerbohm in Yellow Bk. III. Oct. 250 The Non-conformist Conscience makes cowards of us all. 1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Sept. 670/1 The difficulties of governing Ireland and keeping the Nonconformist conscience quiet. |
4. A moth, Lithophane lamda, found in northern Europe, Russia, and North America.
| 1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 428/2 The Nonconformist... Their colour is bluish-gray in some specimens, prettily varied with darker and lighter gray in others. 1961 Edelsten & Fletcher South's Moths Brit. Is. (ed. 4) 228 The Nonconformist (Lithophane lamda, Fab.). |
Hence nonconforˈmistical a., characteristic of Nonconformists; nonconforˈmistically adv., in the manner of Nonconformists.
| 1808 Southey Lett. (1856) II. 66 The ‘Monthly Review’..notices the book with civil Non-conformistical dullness. 1891 Sat. Rev. 21 Mar. 343/1 It is..the most Nonconformistically conscientious thing in the world. |