different between heretic vs turncoat

English

Alternative forms

• hæretic (archaic), hæretick (obsolete), heretick (obsolete), heretike (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French eretique, from Medieval Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin haereticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (hairetikós, “able to choose, factious”), itself from Ancient Greek ????? (hairé?, “I choose”)

Pronunciation

• (noun): (US) IPA^(key): /?h???t?k/

Noun

heretic (plural heretics)

1. Someone who believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to.

   • In the framework of traditional medical ethics, the patient
     deserves humane attention only insofar as he is potentially
     healthy and is willing to be healthy—just as in the framework
     of traditional Christian ethics, the heretic deserved humane
     attention only insofar as he was potentially a true believer and
     was willing to become one. In the one case, people are
     accepted as human beings only because they might be healthy
     citizens; in the other, only because they might be faithful
     Christians. In short, neither was heresy formerly, nor is sick-
     ness now, given the kind of humane recognition which, from
     the point of view of an ethic of respect and tolerance, they
     deserve.

2. Someone who does not conform to generally accepted beliefs or practices

Synonyms

• apostate
• dissident
• nonconformist
• sectarian
• separatist
• withersake

Translations

Adjective

heretic (comparative more heretic, superlative most heretic)

1. (archaic) Heretical; of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.

Antonyms

• orthodox

Translations

Related terms

• heresy
• heretical

Anagrams

• chierte, erethic, etheric, heteric, techier

Scots

Etymology

See heresy.

Noun

heretic (plural heretics)

1. heretic
2. (literary style) A poet who claims to have no religion, or to disdain one.

   He's as puir as the heretic baird.

English

Etymology

A compound of turn +? coat, reportedly derived from the sometime military practice of wearing uniform coats that were lined in material of a contrasting color, and which could be worn inside out to present a different appearance.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t??n.k??t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?t?n.ko?t/

Noun

turncoat (plural turncoats)

1. A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

   Synonyms: apostate, defector, renegade

   • 1711, Jonathan Swift, An Excellent New Song

     But some will cry Turncoat, and rip up old stories, / How I always pretended to be for the tories:

Alternative forms

• turn-coat
• turn coat

Translations