Manichean

or Man·i·chae·an

[ man-i-kee-uh n ]

/ ˌmæn ɪˈki ən /

noun

Also Man·i·chee

[man-i-kee] /ˈmæn ɪˌki/. an adherent of the dualistic religious system of Manes, a combination of Gnostic Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and various other elements, with a basic doctrine of a conflict between light and dark, matter being regarded as dark and evil.

adjective

of or relating to the Manicheans or their doctrines.

Origin of Manichean

1300–50; Middle English Maniche (< Late Latin Manichaeus < Late Greek Manichaîos of Manes) + -an

Related formsMan·i·che·an·ism, Man·i·che·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for manichaean

How else to explain this Manichaean reaction to young men from a part of India, Kashmir, which bridles against its place in India?
India Row Evokes Cricket’s Ultranationalist Tebbit Test|Tunku Varadarajan|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have learned that outcomes, at least when it comes to technology, are not as Manichaean as we believe them to be in the moment.
How Salman Rushdie’s Tweet Put Me Off Twitter|Benjamin Anastas|July 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His Manichaean friends urged him to take this step, which was rendered easier by the licentious lives of the students at Carthage.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 8|Various
He was a great scholar, and had become acquainted with Gnostic and Manichaean doctrines.
Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories|Anonymous

Yet Languedoc furnished the most heroic martyrs for the ascetic Manichaean creed.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 2|Various
Increasingly occupied with the exact sciences, he learnt the incompatibility of the Manichaean astrology with the facts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 8|Various
The Manichaean system is one of consistent, uncompromising dualism, in the form of a fantastic philosophy of nature.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for manichaean

Manichaean

Manichean

/ (ˌmænɪˈkiːən) /

adjective

of or relating to Manichaeism

mainly RC Church involving a radical dualism

noun

an adherent of Manichaeism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for manichaean

Manichaean

also Manichean, 1550s (n.), 1630s (adj.), from Latin Manichaeus (see Manichaeism).