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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

lat·i·tu·di·nar·i·an

Audio Help [lat-i-tood-n-air-ee-uh

n, -tyood-] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	allowing or characterized by latitude in opinion or conduct, esp. in religious views.

–noun

2.	a person who is latitudinarian in opinion or conduct.

3.	Anglican Church. one of the churchmen in the 17th century who maintained the wisdom of the episcopal form of government and ritual but denied its divine origin and authority.

[Origin: 1655–65; < L lātitūdin- (see latitudinal) + -arian

]

—Related forms

lat·i·tu·di·nar·i·an·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
latitudinarian

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lat·i·tu·di·nar·i·an Audio Help   (lāt'ĭ-tōōd'n-âr'ē-ən, -tyōōd'-) Pronunciation Key
adj.   Holding or expressing broad or tolerant views, especially in religious matters.

n.   Latitudinarian
A member of a group of Anglican Christians active from the 17th through the 19th century who were opposed to dogmatic positions of the Church of England and allowed reason to inform theological interpretation and judgment.

[Latin lātitūdō, lātitūdin-, latitude; see latitude + -arian.]

lat'i·tu'di·nar'i·an n., lat'i·tu'di·nar'i·an·ism n.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

latitudinarian
adjective
1.	unwilling to accept authority or dogma (especially in religion) [syn: free-thinking]
noun
1.	a person who is broad-minded and tolerant (especially in standards of religious belief and conduct)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Latitudinarian

Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an\, a. [Cf. F. latitudinaire.]

1. Not restrained; not confined by precise limits.

2. Indifferent to a strict application of any standard of belief or opinion; hence, deviating more or less widely from such standard; lax in doctrine; as, latitudinarian divines; latitudinarian theology.

Latitudinarian sentiments upon religious subjects. --Allibone.

3. Lax in moral or religious principles.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Latitudinarian

Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an\, n. 1. One who is moderate in his notions, or not restrained by precise settled limits in opinion; one who indulges freedom in thinking.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) A member of the Church of England, in the time of Charles II., who adopted more liberal notions in respect to the authority, government, and doctrines of the church than generally prevailed.

They were called "men of latitude;" and upon this, men of narrow thoughts fastened upon them the name of latitudinarians. --Bp. Burnet.

3. (Theol.) One who departs in opinion from the strict principles of orthodoxy.

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latitudinarian

latitudinarian was Word of the Day on August 15, 2001.

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