a. [f. Febrōnius + -AN.] Of or pertaining to (Justinus) Febronius; a pseudonym under which J. N. von Hontheim of Treves wrote in the 18th century, maintaining the independence of national churches. Hence Febronianism, the doctrine thus maintained.
1856. Literary Churchman, II. 66/1. The extract on the Erastianism, or ‘Febronianism,’ of Austria is as follows.
1882. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., I. 722/2. The whole relation between the Pope and the bishops is defined in harmony with the Febronian principles.
1885. Catholic Dict., 244/2. Febronianism … may be roughly described as an exaggeration of Gallicanism. Ibid., 346/1. The notorious Church reforms of Joseph II. may be fairly called Febronian.
