Anglican, a. and n.
(ˈæŋglɪkən)
[ad. med.L. Anglicān-us (Magna Carta), f. Anglic-us; see prec. and -an.]
A. adj.
1. Of or peculiar to the English ecclesiastically; of the reformed Church of England, and other churches in communion therewith. Cf. ‘Pananglican Synod.’ Also used as Gallican is, in opposition to Roman; and to indicate moderate High Church opinions, as distinguished from those said to be ‘Romanizing.’
| [1215 Magna Carta in Stubbs Sel. Charters v. 288 Quod Anglicana ecclesia libera sit.] 1635 Howell Lett. (1650) II. 23 They all concur in opposition to the Roman Church; as also they of the Anglican, Scotican, Gallic..and Belgick Confessions. 1660 Fell Hammond's Life in Wks. (1684) I. 12 The sober Principles and old establishment of the Anglicane Church. 1840 Gladstone Ch. Princ. 228 Many members of the Papal communion have maintained the validity of Anglican orders. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 91 [To] force the Anglican clergy to become his agents for the destruction of the Anglican doctrine and discipline. Mod. ‘An Anglican Sisterhood, styled {oqq}The Society of the Holy Trinity.{cqq}’ |
2. English (in the general sense).
| 1860 Marsh Eng. Lang. 15 All who use the Anglican speech. 1871 Ruskin Fors Clav. I. iii. 19 The quite Anglican character of [King] Richard, to his death. |
B. n. An adherent of the reformed Church of England; esp. one holding High Church principles, or who approves of Catholic doctrine and ritual, while claiming for the English Church a national independence of Rome, and repudiating certain popular tenets of Rome as corruptions.
| a 1797 Burke Let. to R. Burke (L.) Whether Catholicks, Anglicans, or Calvinists. 1844 Pugin Gloss. Eccl. Orn. 75 Copes were among the chief ornaments retained by the Anglicans. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. III. xvi. §4. 361 Secondly there were the Anglicans..content to separate from Rome, but only that they might bear Italian fruit more profusely and luxuriantly when rooted in their own soil. 1882 Church Q. Rev. XV. 159 The loyal Anglican's grief. |