Cathar

[ kath-ahr ]

noun

, plural Cath·a·ri [kath, -, uh, -rahy], Cath·ars.

1. (in medieval Europe) a member of any of several rigorously ascetic Christian sects maintaining a dualistic theology.

Cathar

/ ˈkæθərɪst; ˈkæθə /

noun

1. a member of a Christian sect in Provence in the 12th and 13th centuries who believed the material world was evil and only the spiritual was good

Derived Forms

• ˈCatharˌism, noun

Other Words From

• Catha·rism noun
• Catha·ristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cathar¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Late Latin Catharī (plural), from Late Greek hoi Katharoí “Novatians,” literally, “the pure”; applied in Medieval Latin to various sects

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cathar¹

from Medieval Latin Cathari, from Greek katharoi the pure

Example Sentences

Richard Cathar, late of Oxford University, is something of a loser, at least in matters of love.

From The Daily Beast

Here seems to belong in the order of development the Cathar Eucharist (see Cathars).

From Project Gutenberg

Cathar′sis, evacuation of the bowels; Cathart′ic, a purgative medicine; Cathar′tin, the purgative principle of senna.

From Project Gutenberg