英文字典中文字典51ZiDian.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Heresy \Her"e*sy\, n.; pl. {Heresies}. [OE. heresie, eresie, OF.
heresie, iresie, F. h['e]r['e]sie, L. haeresis, Gr. ? a
taking, a taking for one's self, choosing, a choice, a sect,
a heresy, fr. ? to take, choose.]
[1913 Webster]
1. An opinion held in opposition to the established or
commonly received doctrine, and tending to promote a
division or party, as in politics, literature, philosophy,
etc.; -- usually, but not necessarily, said in reproach.
[1913 Webster]

New opinions
Divers and dangerous, which are heresies,
And, not reformed, may prove pernicious. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

After the study of philosophy began in Greece, and
the philosophers, disagreeing amongst themselves,
had started many questions . . . because every man
took what opinion he pleased, each several opinion
was called a heresy; which signified no more than a
private opinion, without reference to truth or
falsehood. --Hobbes.
[1913 Webster]

2. (Theol.) Religious opinion opposed to the authorized
doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially
when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of
orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous
belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine
or truth; heterodoxy.
[1913 Webster]

Doubts 'mongst divines, and difference of texts,
From whence arise diversity of sects,
And hateful heresies by God abhor'd. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]

Deluded people! that do not consider that the
greatest heresy in the world is a wicked life.
--Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]

3. (Law) An offense against Christianity, consisting in a
denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is
publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained.
[1913 Webster]

A second offense is that of heresy, which consists
not in a total denial of Christianity, but of some
its essential doctrines, publicly and obstinately
avowed. --Blackstone.
[1913 Webster]

Note: "When I call dueling, and similar aberrations of honor,
a moral heresy, I refer to the force of the Greek ?, as
signifying a principle or opinion taken up by the will
for the will's sake, as a proof or pledge to itself of
its own power of self-determination, independent of all
other motives." --Coleridge.
[1913 Webster]