Mahometan, a. and n.
(məˈhɒmɪtən)
Also 6 Machometan, Machumetan, 7–8 Mahumetan(e, 6– Mahometan.
[ad. med.L. Machometān-us, Mahometānus, f. Machumetus, Mahometus: see prec. Cf. F. mahométain.]
A. adj.
1. = Muhammadan a.
| 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa i. 10 The Mahumetan priestes alwaies forbad the Arabians to passe over Nilus with their armies. Ibid. iii. 165 No Mahumetan king or prince may weare a crowne. 1714 Spect. No. 631 ¶ 7 The Jewish Law, (and the Mahometan, which in some things copies after it) is filled with Bathings..and other Rites. 1777 Watson Philip II (1839) 161 Putting to death..all the priests and other Christians who refused to embrace the Mahometan religion. 1850 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. ii. (1872) 25 The anticipated rewards and punishments must be of a Mahometan character. |
† 2. = Turkish. Obs.
| 1600 R. Carr (title) The Mahumetane or Turkish Historie, in three Bookes. |
B. n. A Muhammadan.
| 1529 More Dyaloge iv. Wks. 260/1 The Machometanys beyng a sensual sect, dyd in fewe yeres draw the great part of the world vnto it. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa iii. 160 In old Fez neither gold nor siluer is coined, nor any Mahumetans are suffered to be goldsmiths. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Mahometanism, The Mahometans account all such as own anything of number in the divinity, to be infidels or idolaters. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. I. 147 It is these three descriptions of persons, together with others who have risen under the Mahometans [etc.]. |
Hence † Mahomeˈtanical a. = Muhammadan a.; Maˈhometanize v. trans., to convert to Muhammadanism.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 147 The Alcoran,..whereupon dependeth the whole Mahometanicall Law. 1779 Swinburne Trav. Spain xliv. 419, I am inclined to suspect that our old structures have been new-named, and Mahometanised without sufficient proof of their Arabic origin. |