sb. and a. Church Hist. Forms: 6 Sc. Wiclefit, 7 Wickliv- (7–8 -lev-), 8 Wicliv-, 8–9 Wicliff- (9 Wiclif-, Wiklif-), Wickliff-, 9 Wycliff-, Wyclifite. [ad. med. or early mod.L. Wiclefita, etc., f. the name of John Wycliffe or Wyclif (c. 1320–1384; also spelt Wiclif, etc.), English theologian, writer, and religious reformer, + -ITE1 1 b.]
A. sb. One who held or propagated the religious tenets or doctrines of Wycliffe; a follower of Wycliffe; = WYCLIFFIAN, WYCLIFFIST sbs.
1580. J. Hay, in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 54. Heresies, of the Albigenses, Waldenses, Wiclefits, Hussits.
1661. Blount, Glossogr. (ed. 2), Wicklivites, the followers of Wicklif.
1684. S. G., Anglorum Spec., 796. Eleanor Cobham was persecuted for being a Wicklevite.
1720. Lewis, Life Wyclif, 108. A most effectual Way to ruine the poor Wicliffites.
1778. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, II. 390. The Wickliffites entirely grounded their ideas … on scriptural proofs.
1813. T. D. Whitaker, Visio P. Pl., p. xviii. That he … taught almost all the fundamental doctrines of Christianity has no tendency to prove him a Wickliffite or Lollard.
1850. Forshall & Madden, Holy Bible, I. p. xxxiii. note. The Wycliffites … were not backward to defend their right to have the Scriptures in their own language.
1870. Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 57. [Bishop] Richard Fleming had also been a Wiklifite.
B. adj. 1. Of or pertaining to, written or made by, Wycliffe or his followers.
1843. Way, Promp. Parv., 316, note. In the earlier Wicliffite version.
1880. F. D. Matthew, Wyclif’s Wks., p. xxviii. That he really held Wyclifite opinions.
1884. J. R. Thomson, Life Wiclif, 86/1. The Wiclifite tenets spread most rapidly.
1896. Skeat, in Trans. Philol. Soc., 219. A diligent student of Wycliffite literature.
2. Of persons: That is a follower of Wycliffe; holding, advocating, or propagating the religious views of Wycliffe and his school.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvi. 450. The Wycliffite or Lollard preachers had raised a cry against the clergy.
1880. F. D. Matthew, Wyclif’s Wks., p. xxix. (heading), Wyclifite Party crushed.
