Infidel \In"fi*del\, n.
One who does not believe in the prevailing religious faith; a
heathen; a freethinker; -- used especially by Christians and
Mohammedans.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: Infidel is used by English writers to translate the
equivalent word used Mohammedans in speaking of
Christians and other disbelievers in Mohammedanism.
Syn: Infidel, Unbeliever, Freethinker, Deist,
Atheist, Sceptic, Agnostic.
Usage: An infidel, in common usage, is one who denies
Christianity and the truth of the Scriptures. Some
have endeavored to widen the sense of infidel so as to
embrace atheism and every form of unbelief; but this
use does not generally prevail. A freethinker is now
only another name for an infidel. An unbeliever is not
necessarily a disbeliever or infidel, because he may
still be inquiring after evidence to satisfy his mind;
the word, however, is more commonly used in the
extreme sense. A deist believes in one God and a
divine providence, but rejects revelation. An atheist
denies the being of God. A sceptic is one whose faith
in the credibility of evidence is weakened or
destroyed, so that religion, to the same extent, has
no practical hold on his mind. An agnostic remains in
a state of suspended judgment, neither affirming nor
denying the existence of a personal Deity.
[1913 Webster]
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INFIDEL, persons, evidence. One who does not believe in the existence of a
God, who will reward or punish in this world or that which is to come.
Willes' R. 550. This term has been very indefinitely applied. Under the name
of infidel, Lord Coke comprises Jews and heathens; 2 Inst 506; 3 Inst. 165;
and Hawkins includes among infidels, such as do not believe either in the
Old or New Testament. Hawk. P. C. b 2, c. 46, s. 148.
2. It is now settled that when the witness believes in a God who will
reward or punish him even in this world he is competent. See willes, R. 550.
His belief may be proved from his previous declarations and avowed opinions;
and when he has avowed himself to be an infidel, he may show a reform of his
conduct, and change of his opinion since the declarations proved when the
declarations have been made for a very considerable space of time, slight
proof will suffice to show he has changed his opinion. There is some
conflict in the cases on this subject, some of them are here referred to:
18 John. R. 98; 1 Harper, R. 62; 4 N. Hamp. R. 444; 4 Day's Cas. 51; 2
Cowen, R. 431, 433 n., 572; 7 Conn. R. 66; 2 Tenn. R. 96; 4 Law Report, 268;
Alis. Pr. Cr. Law, 438; 5 Mason, 16; 15 mass. 184; 1 Wright, 345; So. Car.
Law Journ. 202. Vide Atheist; Future state.
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INFIDEL, n. In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian
religion; in Constantinople, one who does. (See GIAOUR.) A kind of
scoundrel imperfectly reverent of, and niggardly contributory to,
divines, ecclesiastics, popes, parsons, canons, monks, mollahs,
voodoos, presbyters, hierophants, prelates, obeah-men, abbes, nuns,
missionaries, exhorters, deacons, friars, hadjis, high-priests,
muezzins, brahmins, medicine-men, confessors, eminences, elders,
primates, prebendaries, pilgrims, prophets, imaums, beneficiaries,
clerks, vicars-choral, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors,
preachers, padres, abbotesses, caloyers, palmers, curates, patriarchs,
bonezs, santons, beadsmen, canonesses, residentiaries, diocesans,
deans, subdeans, rural deans, abdals, charm-sellers, archdeacons,
hierarchs, class-leaders, incumbents, capitulars, sheiks, talapoins,
postulants, scribes, gooroos, precentors, beadles, fakeers, sextons,
reverences, revivalists, cenobites, perpetual curates, chaplains,
mudjoes, readers, novices, vicars, pastors, rabbis, ulemas, lamas,
sacristans, vergers, dervises, lectors, church wardens, cardinals,
prioresses, suffragans, acolytes, rectors, cures, sophis, mutifs and
pumpums.
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