Schismatic, n.
One who creates or takes part in schism; one who separates from an established church or religious communion on account of a difference of opinion. "They were popularly classed together as canting schismatics." Macaulay.
Syn. -- Heretic; partisan. See Heretic.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Schismatic (sîzmâtîk; so nearly all orthoëpists), a.
Of or pertaining to schism; implying schism; partaking of the nature of schism; tending to schism; as, schismatic opinions or proposals.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for schismatic; he lists it under heretic.
Where he writes about it:
Etymologically, a heretic is one who takes or chooses his own belief, instead of the belief of his church; hence, a heretic is one who denies commonly accepted views, or who holds opinions contrary to the recognized standard or tenets of any established religious, philosophical, or other system, school, or party; the religious sense of the word is the predominant one; a schismatic is primarily one who produces a split or rent in the church. — from heretic
A heretic differs in doctrine from the religious body with which he is connected; a schismatic differs in doctrine or practise, or in both. — from heretic
A heretic may be reticent, or even silent; a schismatic introduces divisions. — from heretic
A heresiarch is the author of a heresy or the leader of a heretical party, and is thus at once a heretic and a schismatic. — from heretic
Antonyms
none given