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Origin and history of Unitarian

Unitarian(n.)

1680s, "one who rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and maintains the unipersonality of the Deity," with -ian + from Modern Latin unitarius (1650s), from Latin unitas "oneness" (see unity).

It also formerly was applied to Muslims and other non-Christian monotheists and was used in various non-theological senses to express "of or relating to a unit or unity." But typically (and with a capital) it refers to a Christian body founded upon the doctrine of unipersonality. The American Unitarian Association formed in 1825. As an adjective it is attested from 1680s.

Entries linking to Unitarian

c. 1300, unite, "state or property of being one," from Anglo-French unite, Old French unite "uniqueness, oneness" (c. 1200), from Latin unitatem (nominative unitas) "oneness, sameness, agreement," from unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique").

Originally in theology, in reference to the persons of the Trinity; general use is by late 14c., "indivisibility, harmonious combination of parts." It is attested by 1580s as "a separate, single thing." In the arts, the unities, in reference the three principles (time, place, action) to be properly maintained in literary works and drama, is by 1660s.

1731, from infra- + Latin lapsus "a fall" (see lapse (n.)) + ending from unitarian, etc.

[In theology], the doctrine held by Augustinians and by many Calvinists, that God planned the creation, permitted the fall, elected a chosen number, planned their redemption, and suffered the remainder to be eternally punished. The Sublapsarians believe that God did not permit but foresaw the fall, while the Supralapsarians hold that God not only permitted but decreed it. [Century Dictionary]
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