a. and sb. [f. the name of Emanuel Swedenborg or Svedberg (see below) + -IAN.] a. adj. Of or pertaining to Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish scientific and religious writer (1688–1772), or the body of followers of his religious teachings, organized in 1788 and styled by themselves ‘The New Church.’ b. sb. A follower of Swedenborg. Hence Swedenborgianism, also rarely Swedenborgism.
1792. Observer, 16 March, 3/1. There is the greatest similarity between the new sect of Swedenborgians, and the Muggletonians of Pothouse memory!
1802. M. Cutler, in Life, etc. (1888), II. 114. In the evening the Swedenborgian preached in the Hall.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, iv. 168. Some Swedenborgians in our streets are found, Those wandering walkers on enchanted ground.
1823. Woodstock Observer, 19 Aug., 4/5. We consider Swedenborgianism a much more dangerous doctrine than Islamism, because it destroys the authority of the bible altogether, by making it mean any thing and every thing.
1825. Syd. Smith, Sp., Wks. 1859, II. 109/1. They never can mean that our government is essentially Presbyterian, essentially Swedenborgian, essentially Ranting, or essentially Methodist.
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Immortality (1883), 242. Some neat and plausible system, as Calvinism, Romanism, or Swedenborgism, for household use.
1863. E. H. Plumptre, in Smith’s Dict. Bible, III. s.v. Science, A spurious theosophy—of which Swedenborgianism is, perhaps, the nearest modern analogue.
