Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Heresy"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Heresy
from a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion
chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the
Apostles (5:17; 15:5; 24:5, 14; 26:5) it denotes a sect, without
reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the New
Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks
"heresies" with crimes and seditions (Gal. 5:20). This word also
denotes divisions or schisms in the church (1 Cor. 11:19). In
Titus 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own
self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus
came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God (2
Pet. 2:1).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Heresy \Her"e*sy\, n.; pl. {Heresies}. [OE. heresie, eresie, OF.
heresie, iresie, F. h['e]r['e]sie, L. haeresis, Gr. ? a
taking, a taking for one's self, choosing, a choice, a sect,
a heresy, fr. ? to take, choose.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
heresy
n 1: any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or
orthodox position [syn: {unorthodoxy}, {heterodoxy}]
[ant: {orthodoxy}]
2: a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
[syn: {unorthodoxy}]
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