schismatic, a. and n.
(sɪzˈmætɪk, sk-)
Forms: 4–6 scismatik, 5 cysmatyke, scismattike, 5–6 sys-, scismatyk, 6 scysmatik, -yk(e, schismatik, sys-, scismatick, 7 scismatique, 6–7 schismatike, -ique, icke, 7 schismatick, 7– schismatic.
[ME. cysmatyke, scismatik, etc., a. OF. cis-, scismatique (mod.F. schismatique, after Gr.; the altered spelling came in both in Fr. and Eng. near the end of the 16th c.), ad. eccl. L. schismaticus, a. eccl. Gr. σχισµατικός, f. σχισµατ-, σχίσµα schism n. Cf. Pr. sismatic, Sp. cismático, Pg. schismatico, It. scismatico.
Johnson, Walker, Todd, and Smart (1836–48) have the stress ˈschismatic, which appears in many early verse examples. The accentuation now current is given by Webster in 1828; cf. quot. 1822 (Byron).]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to schism or schismatics; of the nature of schism; guilty of the offence of schism.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 78/2 Cysmatyke, cismaticus, cismatica. Ibid. 456/2 Sysmatyk, scismaticus. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 109 The subjectis of the Emperour suld kepe thair obedience till him alset he war scismattike. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 19 Preamble, Whiche Scismatyk demeanure of the seid Frensche King ys and hathe ben parlyous and terrible example to all Cristen fayth. 1534 in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 8 Yn the whych sermondes he prechyd dyvers sysmatyke and yronyous opinions. 1543 Bale Yet a Course at Rom. Foxe 98 b, Hontyngton..can not amonge all hys heretyques fynde..one scysmatyk Prest. 1645 Evelyn Diary ? July, I went over to St. George's to the ceremonie of the schismatic Greekes, who are permitted to have their Church, tho' they are at defiance with Rome. 1728 Morgan Algiers I. iii. 59 The Schismatick Mahometans..employed their utmost malice against that unhappy City. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. viii, It was to be hoped, that, though she was the widow of an enthusiastic corporal of Cromwell's dragoons, her grandson might be neither schismatic nor anti-national. 1822 Byron Werner iv. i, Though the schismatic Swede, Gustavus, is Gone home. 1864 Pusey Lect. Daniel (1876) 258 The schismatic kingdom of Israel. 1865 ― Truth Eng. Ch. 65 There may be schismatic acts, which have not the deadliness of the sin of schism. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 312 The..Modern Painters were..more startled than flattered by my schismatic praise. |
B. n. One who promotes or countenances schism or breach of external unity in the Church; one who is guilty of the sin of schism; a member or adherent of a schismatical body.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 115 For cryste cleped vs alle come if we wolde, Sarasenes and scismatikes. c 1440 Jacob's Well iv. 28 Alle, þat kepyn holy cherch-godys, or wyth⁓holdyn þat arn alyenyd awey be sysmatykes..& noȝt wyln restoryn þe godys aȝen [etc.]. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 242 And because that the Spaynardis were scismatikes, the Pope Urban graunted [etc.]. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 218 b, Malicyous lyuers, as moost specially ben these heretykes and scismatykes. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love 2 Whosoever doth cut a sunder the unitye, and disturbe the peace of the Church,..is a Schismatique. 1600 Sir John Oldcastle iv. iii. 134 Old Ruffian past-grace, vpstart schismatike. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. iv. i. i. 715 Enthusiasts, Diuinators, Prophets, Sectaries, Scismaticks. 1642 Chas. I Declar. to County York 3 June 2 Separatists and Shismaticks. 1650 T. Hubbert Pill Formality 34 Are they not still called Roundheads, Sectaries, Schismaticks, and what not? 1678 Evelyn Diary 22 Feb., Dr. Pierce preach'd at White-hall on 2 Thessal. 3. 6 against our late Schismatics. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 230 Support all Schismatics and Sects. 1688 Answ. Talon's Plea 16 There is none but the Greek Schismaticks that reject the Councill of Florence. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 480 By the Laws of England a Schismatick is one that divides and separates himself from the Establish'd Church of the Realm, not on Fundamentals of Faith, but on some Points of Religion relating to Church Discipline and external Worship. 1769 Blackstone Comm. iv. iv. 52 Papists and protestant dissenters..were supposed to be equally schismatics in departing from the national church. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 164 Both [the puritans and quakers] were schismatics. Both hated episcopacy and the liturgy. 1859 Jephson Brittany vi. 73 Fleury was no longer read by the young clergy, being considered a Gallican and a schismatic. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt xxiii, The wretched cavils of the Nonconformists, and the noisy futility that belongs to schismatics generally. |
| loosely. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. 29455 Schort quhill befoir his dais war compleit, The scismatik callit wes Mohomeit, In Arrabie closit his latter dayis. |
| Comb. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades iii. viii. 422 They saide that Paule..did schismatiquelike sowe in the churches a certeine doctrine peculiar to him selfe. |
b. spec. In Roman Catholic use, one of those Roman Catholics who in the reign of Elizabeth conformed by occasionally attending the services of the Church of England, in order to avoid the penalties denounced against recusants.
| 1584 in Foley Rec. Eng. Prov. S.J. (1880) VI. 726 The schismatics who come to church, and yet in heart are Papists, they do most mischief. 1600 in Morris Troubles Cath. Foref. i. iv. (1872) 194 And this doth touch chiefly schismatics, whose wives for the most part are all recusants, and many Protestants, besides Catholics. 1877 Foley Rec. Eng. Prov. S.J. I. i. 147 His friends and relations were Protestants, but his parents and brothers schismatics. |
c. transf. and
fig.| a 1652 Brome Mad Couple Addr. to Stationer, But 'tis the Custome, and who won't submit, Must be esteem'd a Schismatick in wit. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. upon Fr. King Wks. 1730 I. 60 My breeches too..I found grown Schismaticks, and fall'n asunder. 1834 Macaulay Ess., Pitt ¶19 Pulteney..was the schismatic; they [the Whigs] were the true Catholics, the peculiar people, the despositaries of the orthodox faith of Hampden and Russell. |