infidel English · revision 863
11 Oct 2026, 01:02 by bogdan “New entry from the dictionary sources (AHD, Barnhart, Etymonline, MW, OED, RHWU, Wiktionary)” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈɪn.fə.dl̩/, /ˈɪn.fəˌdɛl/^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[inh|enm|infidele]], [[bor|frm|infidèle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|īnfidēlis|t=unfaithful; in Late Latin, unbelieving]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|la|in-|fidēlis|t1=not|t2=faithful]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ From a Christian point of view, an adherent of a religion opposed to Christianity, especially a Muslim or Saracen (1470–85).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ By 1526 the word meant one who disbelieves in religion generally,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) especially one in a Christian land who rejects Christianity.^(OED 1989) 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).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) From 1606 it meant anyone who disbelieves a particular doctrine or principle.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1470 – adjective, unbelieving, heathen.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1470–85 – a non-Christian, especially a Muslim.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1526 – a disbeliever in religion.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1534 – from a Muslim or Jewish view, a non-believer.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1606 – a disbeliever in some principle.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An unbeliever with respect to a particular religion, especially Christianity or Islam.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A person who has no religious beliefs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A person who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine or principle; a [[skeptic]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Not accepting a particular faith; [[heathen]]; also, without religious faith.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[fidelity]]
+ * [[infidelity]]
+ * [[faith]]
+ * [[heathen]]
+ * [[kaffir]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}