Latitudinarian

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Latitudinarian \Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an\, a. [Cf. F.
     latitudinaire.]
     1. Not restrained; not confined by precise limits.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Latitudinarian sentiments upon religious subjects.
                                                    --Allibone.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Lax in moral or religious principles.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They were called "men of latitude;" and upon this,
              men of narrow thoughts fastened upon them the name
              of latitudinarians.                   --Bp. Burnet.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Theol.) One who departs in opinion from the strict
        principles of orthodoxy.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  latitudinarian
       adj : unwilling to accept authority or dogma (especially in
             religion) [syn: {free-thinking}, {undogmatic}, {undogmatical}]
       n : a person who is broad-minded and tolerant (especially in
           standards of religious belief and conduct)

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  29 Moby Thesaurus words for "latitudinarian":
     big person, broad-gauge person, broad-minded, ecumenicist,
     esprit fort, free lance, free spirit, free trader, freethinker,
     freethinking, humanist, independent, individualist, isolationist,
     liberal, liberalist, liberalistic, libertarian, libertine, mugwump,
     neutral, nonpartisan, open-minded, rugged individualist,
     secular humanist, third force, third world, tolerant, unbigoted