infidel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɪn.fə.dl̩/, /ˈɪn.fəˌdɛl/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English infidele, borrowed from Middle French infidèle,^[2][3][4][5] from Latin īnfidēlis (“unfaithful; in Late Latin, unbelieving”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from Latin in- (“not”) + fidēlis (“faithful”).^[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

From a Christian point of view, an adherent of a religion opposed to Christianity, especially a Muslim or Saracen (1470–85).^[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

By 1526 the word meant one who disbelieves in religion generally,^[7][3][4] especially one in a Christian land who rejects Christianity.^[7] It was also used to translate Arabic kāfir, and so from a Muslim or Jewish point of view meant a Christian or other non-believer (1534).^[7][4][6] From 1606 it meant anyone who disbelieves a particular doctrine or principle.^[7][2]

Timeline

• c. 1470 – adjective, unbelieving, heathen.^[3][7]
• 1470–85 – a non-Christian, especially a Muslim.^[7][3]
• 1526 – a disbeliever in religion.^[7][3][4]
• 1534 – from a Muslim or Jewish view, a non-believer.^[7]
• 1606 – a disbeliever in some principle.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. An unbeliever with respect to a particular religion, especially Christianity or Islam.
2. A person who has no religious beliefs.
3. A person who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine or principle; a skeptic.

Adjective

1. Not accepting a particular faith; heathen; also, without religious faith.

Related words

• fidelity
• infidelity
• faith
• heathen
• kaffir

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press