Homoousian

American  

[hoh-moh-oo-see-uhn, -ou-, hom-oh-] / ˌhoʊ moʊˈu si ən, -ˈaʊ-, ˌhɒm oʊ- /

noun

1. a member of a 4th-century a.d. church party that maintained that the essence or substance of the Father and the Son is the same (Heteroousian ).

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Homoousians or their doctrine.

Homoousian British  

/ ˌhəʊməʊˈuːsɪən, -ˈaʊ-, ˌhɒm- /

noun

1. a Christian who believes that the Son is of the same substance as the Father Compare Homoiousian

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Homoousians

Other Word Forms

• Homoousianism noun

Etymology

Origin of Homoousian

1555–65; < Late Greek homooúsi ( os ) of the same substance ( Greek hom ( o )- homo- + ousí ( a ) substance, essence + -os adj. suffix) + -an

Example Sentences

Later witnesses speak of his fidelity to the homoousian during the Arian controversies.

From Project Gutenberg

The enmity of the Homoousian to the Homiousian was as bitter as that between Guelph and Ghibelline, as that of Capulet and Montague; and only the pen of a Swift could do justice to the brawls “Bred of an airy word.”

From Project Gutenberg

Theological discussions at length became so general in Alexandria that some one has said that "Every washer-woman in the city was arguing the merits of homoousian and homoiousian in the streets."

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, he had recourse to the following measures: he knew that Constantius was hated by all the people who held the homoousian faith and had driven them from the churches and had proscribed and exiled their bishops.

From Project Gutenberg

For so the holy and homoousian Trinity, the Creator and Life-giver of the universe, which has ever been adored by us in piety, now also is served by us in the destruction of the before-mentioned tares and the confirmation of the true and apostolic traditions of the holy symbol, becoming favorable and gracious both to our souls and to every one of our subjects, shall ever aid us and preserve in peace human affairs.

From Project Gutenberg