sb. and a. [ad. mod.L. Socinian-us, f. Socinus, Latinized form of the Italian surname Soz(z)ini. Cf. F. Socinien.]
A. sb. One of a sect founded by Lælius and Faustus Socinus, two Italian theologians of the 16th century, who denied the divinity of Christ.
1645. E. Pagitt, Heresiogr., Ep. Ded. (ed. 2), B 3. We have also Socinians, who teach that Christ dyed not to satisfie for our sins.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 177. The Socinians say, That … the Doctrine of the Trinity is of Antichrist.
1673. Milton, True Relig., Wks. 1851, V. 410. The Arian and Socinian are charg’d to dispute against the Trinity.
1733. Neal, Hist. Purit., II. 99. He died a professed Socinian.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, iv. 258. True Independents: while they Calvin hate, They heed as little what Socinians state.
1866. Liddon, Bampton Lect., I. (1875), 15. Socinians … assert that Jesus Christ is merely man.
Comb. 1698. F. B., Modest Censure, 31. It is very invidious to go a Socinian-hunting.
B. adj. Pertaining to the Socinians or their creed.
1694. (title) A Brief Account of the Socinian Trinity.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Dial. Dead, Wks. 1711, IV. 70. All the Socinian Treatises that stole into the World.
1794. Hurd, Life Bp. Warburton, 119. Next to infidels professed, there was no set of writers he treated with less ceremony, than the Socinian.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 119/2. This measure … was followed by the abolition of the two remaining Socinian schools.
1865. Pusey, Truth Eng. Ch., 13. The infidel or Socinian press in England.
