Theatine

American  

[thee-uh-tin, -tahyn, -teen] / ˈθi ə tɪn, -ˌtaɪn, -ˌtin /

noun

1. a member of a congregation of regular clerics, founded in Italy in 1524 to combat Protestantism and promote higher morality among Roman Catholics.

2. a member of a congregation of nuns, founded in Italy in 1583 under the direction of the Theatine fathers.

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Etymology

Origin of Theatine

First recorded in 1590–1600, Theatine is from the New Latin word Theatēnus of Chieti, Italy, where one of the founders held the archbishopric

Example Sentences

Paul the Fourth brought to the papal throne the same fervent zeal which had carried him into the Theatine convent.

From Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3) by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

Constrained by the anguish of a death-bed, he sent for a Theatine monk to act as his confessor, and to administer, in his last hours, the services of the Church.

From Louis XIV. Makers of History Series by Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

The only effort at proselytizing of which we have record came to an untimely end in the death of the Theatine monk, Antonio Ventimiglia, who had been its originator.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

This letter made a great stir, and brought Bossuet—then regarded as the mouthpiece of the Gallican Church—into the field to crush the imprudent Theatine.

From Queens of the French Stage by Williams, H. Noel

Ignatius, however, did not go to Rome on account of Doctor Ortiz and the Theatine Cardinal recently raised to that dignity.

From The Autobiography of St. Ignatius by O'Conor, J. F. X. (John Francis Xavier)