infidel
English
Etymology
First attested 1460, from Middle French infidèle, from Latin īnfidēlis (“unfaithful”), from in- (“not”) + fidēlis (“faithful”). See fidelity.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɪn.fə.dl̩/, /ˈɪn.fə.ˌdɛl/
Audio (UK) (file)
Adjective
infidel (comparative more infidel, superlative most infidel)
- Rejecting a specific religion.
- Of, characteristic of, or relating to unbelievers or unbelief.
- 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 7, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, OCLC 57395299:
- (...) how it is that to his name who yesterday departed for the other world, we prefix so significant and infidel a word, and yet do not thus entitle him, if he but embarks for the remotest Indies of this living earth;(...)
- 1881 — Ernestine Rose, A Defence of Atheism, J.P. Mendum, page 20
- But not only have the priests tried to make the very term Atheism odious, as if it would destroy all of good and beautiful in nature, but some of the reformers, not having the moral courage to avow their own sentiments, wishing to be popular, fearing lest their reforms would be considered Infidel, (as all reforms assuredly are), shield themselves from the stigma, by joining in the tirade against Atheism, and associate it with everything that is vile, with the crime of slavery, the corruptions of the Church, and all the vices imaginable.
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Noun
infidel (plural infidels)
- (now usually derogatory) One who does not believe in a certain religion.
- 1779, Vicesimus Knox, On the Prevalence of Religious Scepticism
- The infidel writer is a greater enemy to society.
- 2005, George W. Braswell, Islam and America: Answers to the 31 Most-asked Questions (page 33)
- Some Muslims are taught that non-Muslims are infidels and are to be shunned.
- 1779, Vicesimus Knox, On the Prevalence of Religious Scepticism
- (now usually derogatory) One who does not believe in a certain principle.
- (now usually derogatory) One with no religious beliefs.
Synonyms
- unbeliever
- nonbeliever, non-believer
- disbeliever
- (one with no religious beliefs): atheist
Related terms
- fidelity
Translations
non-believer
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Anagrams
- infield, infiled
Catalan
Etymology
From Latin īnfidēlis (“unfaithful”).
Adjective
infidel (masculine and feminine plural infidels)
- unfaithful
- Antonym: fidel
Derived terms
- infidelment
Related terms
- infidelitat
Noun
infidel m or f (plural infidels)
- infidel
Further reading
- “infidel” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “infidel”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
- “infidel” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “infidel” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
Romanian
Etymology
From French infidèle, from Latin infidelis. Equivalent to in- + fidel.
Adjective
infidel m or n (feminine singular infidelă, masculine plural infideli, feminine and neuter plural infidele)
- unfaithful
Declension
Declension of infidel
| singular | plural | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
| nominative/ accusative | indefinite | infidel | infidelă | infideli | infidele | ||
| definite | infidelul | infidela | infidelii | infidelele | |||
| genitive/ dative | indefinite | infidel | infidele | infideli | infidele | ||
| definite | infidelului | infidelei | infidelilor | infidelelor | |||