Priscillianist, n. and a.
(prɪˈsɪlɪənɪst)
[= F. Priscillianiste, ad. med.L. Priscillianista, f. Priscilliān-us Priscillian: see -ist.]
A. n.
1. A disciple of Priscillian, bishop of Avila, in Spain, in the 4th c., who taught doctrines alleged to be Gnostic or Manichæan.
| 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 506 Manie..amongst the Christians haue imagined that the soules of men are the substance of God. I omit to speake of the heretikes, as the Priscilianists, & some others that haue been of this opinion. 1680 Baxter Answ. Stillingfl. lxxiv. 95 Our Quakers are much like the Priscillianists. 1834 Penny Cycl. II. 528/2 The doctrine of astrology was among the errors imputed to the Priscillianists. |
2. A name sometimes given to the Montanists, from Priscilla, the name of one of the two women associated with Montanus.
| 1874 in J. H. Blunt Dict. Sects. |
B. adj. Of or pertaining to the Priscillianists or their doctrines.
| 1887 Dict. Chr. Biog. IV. 476/2 A specimen of the Priscillianist allegorical treatment of the Christian Scriptures. 1900 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 354 The smaller Priscillianist movement in Spain. 1902 Ibid. Apr. 504 He has succeeded in tracing the interpolation to a Priscillianist and therefore heretical source. |
So
Priˈscillian,
Priˈscillianite = A. 1;
Priˈscillianism, the doctrines or principles of Priscillian.
| 1680 Baxter Answ. Stillingfl. lxxiv. 95 Those Bishops..suspecting men that Fasted and Prayed much, to be *Priscillians. |
| 1620 Bp. Hall Hon. Mar. Clergy i. ix, He, being suspected of *Priscillianisme, wrote affectly against that heresie. 1882 Dict. Chr. Biog. III. 841/2 Priscillianism is usually..considered as a phase of Gnosticism. |
| 1585–7 T. Rogers 39 Art. xxxix. (Parker Soc.) 357 The..*Priscillianites,..who for ease, and to avoid troubles and persecution, dread not to swear and forswear themselves. 1676 W. Hubbard Happiness of People 40 The success of capital punishment inflicted on the Priscillianites. |