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• Pelagian
  Pelagian

  noun

  a follower of Pelagius, who denied original sin and believed in freedom of the will.
• pelagian
  pelagian

  adjective

  of or inhabiting the open sea

Pelagian

American  

[puh-ley-jee-uhn, -juhn] / pəˈleɪ dʒi ən, -dʒən /

noun

1. a follower of Pelagius, who denied original sin and believed in freedom of the will.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Pelagius or Pelagianism.

Pelagian ¹ British  

/ pɛˈleɪdʒɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Pelagius or his doctrines

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noun

1. an adherent of the doctrines of Pelagius

pelagian ² British  

/ pɛˈleɪdʒɪən /

adjective

1. of or inhabiting the open sea

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Other Word Forms

• Pelagianism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Pelagian

1525–35; < Late Latin Pelagiānus; see -an

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pelagian pelagian

“It’s like Anthony Burgess’s idea that Pelagian liberalism alternates historically with Augustinian conservatism,” he said.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 10, 2019

Thousands of others have arrived on nearby Pelagian islands, as well as Sicily and Sardinia.

From Newsweek ● Jun. 12, 2011

The daily fly record stands at 27, first set in 2004 by Jordan and three students aboard Philipps's old boat, Pelagian, but it has been tied since.

From Time Magazine Archive

By the close of the Middle Ages, says Dr. Hardman, the Pelagian doctrine of merit had virtually replaced Augustinian predestination in the practical workings of the Church.

From Time Magazine Archive

The passages which bear upon the characteristic Pelagian doctrine are here given.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Joseph Cullen Ayer

Analogous circumstances may have caused, in the ancient catastrophes of our planet, that singular mixture of pelagian and fluviatile bones and petrifactions, which is observed in some rocks of recent formation.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Alexander von Humboldt