a. and sb.; also 6–7 arr- [ad. L. arīān-us, f. Arius Arīus, Gr. Ἄρῑος, Ἀρεῖος, prop. name; see below.]
A. adj. Of, pertaining to, or adhering to the doctrine of, Arius, a presbyter of Alexandria in the 4th c., who denied that Jesus Christ was consubstantial, or of the same essence or substance with God. His opinions were embraced by large sections of Christendom, and the dissensions by which the church was rent lasted for nearly a century.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 552. All the world is become Arrian.
1726. J. Trapp, Popery, I. (T.). The Arian heresy was suppressed.
1861. Stanley, East. Ch., ii. 71. Our first Teutonic version of the Scriptures was by an Arian missionary, Ulfilas.
B. sb. An adherent of the doctrines of Arius.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 502/2. The counsailes against the Arrians of old.
1673. Milton, True Relig., Wks. 1851, 410. The Arian and Socinian are charg’d to dispute against the Trinity.
1740–61. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), III. 213. A very absurd, bad book, and written by an Arian.
1876. Freeman, Gen. Sketch, v. § 6. Chlodwig … became a Christian, and not only a Christian but a Catholic, which greatly favoured his conquests, as all the other Teutonic kings were Arians.
