a. and sb. Also 6 lutherane. [f. proper name Luther + -AN.]
A. adj. Pertaining to the German reformer Martin Luther (1483–1546), his opinions and followers.
In the 16th c. the designation was used by Roman Catholic writers as coextensive with PROTESTANT; applied, e.g., to the reformed Church of England. Now chiefly applied to doctrinal views held by Luther in opposition to other reformers, e.g., his doctrine as to the nature of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist (see CONSUBSTANTIATION), and as the appellation of those churches, principally in Germany and Scandinavia, which accept the Augsburg Confession as their official doctrinal symbol.
1530. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 333. They wyll not discent from the lutheran sekt.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, III. 53. Disliking his marrying into a Lutheran family.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., II. ii. rule vi. § 10. The Lutheran churches … have … as little reason for their division.
1841. T. A. Trollope, Summer W. France, I. viii. 128. Marechal de Saxe … lived and died in the Lutheran religion.
1875. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., xviii. (ed. 5), 336. In North Germany princes as well as people were mostly Lutheran.
B. sb. A follower of Luther; an adherent of his doctrines; a member of the Lutheran church.
1521. Abp. Warham, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 240. The heryng wherof shuld be right … plesant to the open Lutheranes beyond the See.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 99. I know her for A spleeny Lutheran.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 321. We had several Lutherans … these fell a Singing some Spiritual Hymns in the Temple.
1865. J. Gill, Banished Count, xxi. 219. There were large numbers of Lutherans at this time in Pennsylvania.
1900. R. J. Drummond, Apostol. Teach. & Christ’s, viii. 335. This is … the contention of Ritualists, be they Lutherans or Anglicans.
Hence Lutheranancer nonce-wd. = LUTHERAN sb.; Lutheranic a. (rare) = LUTHERAN a.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 273. Depresse this newe pernicious sekt of the lutarynnauncers.
1848. W. H. Mill, Five Serm., 132, note. Where … the palmary Lutheranic dogma is implied. Ibid., 139, note. Perhaps this is the Lutheranic interpretation of the words.
