Added 9 October 2026
heresy
/ˈhɛɹəsi/ noun
In Latin: haeresis Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about heresy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
- A controversial or unorthodox opinion held by a member of a group, as in politics, philosophy or science.
Origin
From Middle English heresie (Middle English her(esie) + -esy), from Old French heresie (modern hérésie), from Latin haeresis, from Ancient Greek αἵρεσις (haíresis, “choice, system of principles”), from αἱρέομαι (hairéomai, “to take for oneself, to choose”), the middle voice of αἱρέω (hairéō, “to take”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser-; see also Welsh herw (“theft, raid”), Ancient Greek στερέω (steréō, “to deprive of”). Displaced native Old English dwild.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)