infidel
[ in-fi-dl, -del ]
/ ˈɪn fɪ dl, -ˌdɛl /
noun
adjective
Nearby words
- infest,
- infestation,
- infeudation,
- infibulate,
- infibulation,
- infidelic,
- infidelity,
- infield,
- infield hit,
- infield out
Origin of infidel
Synonym study
1–3. See agnostic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for infidel
infidel
/ (ˈɪnfɪdəl) /
noun
a person who has no religious belief; unbeliever
adjective
rejecting a specific religion, esp Christianity or Islam
of, characteristic of, or relating to unbelievers or unbelief
Word Origin for infidel
C15: from Medieval Latin infidēlis, from Latin (adj): unfaithful, from in- 1 + fidēlis faithful; see feal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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infidel
mid-15c. (adjective and noun), from Middle French infidèle, from Latin infidelis "unfaithful, not to be trusted," later "unbelieving," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + fidelis "faithful" (see fidelity). In 15c. "a non-Christian" (especially a Saracen); later "one who does not believe in religion" (1520s). Also used to translate Arabic qafir, which is from a root meaning "to disbelieve, to deny," strictly referring to all non-Muslims but virtually synonymous with "Christian;" hence, from a Muslim or Jewish point of view, "a Christian" (1530s; see kaffir).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper