Definition

Noun: 1. A Christian sect of dissenters: A religious group that formed in southern France in the late 12th century, originally part of a movement advocating for apostolic poverty and preaching. They were declared heretical by the Roman Catholic Church. In the 16th century, the Waldenses aligned with the Protestant Reformation and adopted Calvinist doctrines.

Usage

• The Waldenses were persecuted for centuries for their beliefs.
• Historians study the Waldenses to understand medieval dissent and the early Protestant movement.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical and theological contexts to discuss pre-Reformation challenges to ecclesiastical authority and the transmission of reformist ideas.
• The singular form "Waldensian" is used as an adjective (e.g., Waldensian teachings) or to refer to a single member of the sect.

Variants and Related Words

• Waldensian (adjective/noun): Pertaining to the Waldenses or a member of the sect.
  • The Waldensian church has a long history of resilience.

Synonyms

• Vaudois (an alternative historical name for the group)

Noun

1. a Christian sect of dissenters that originated in southern France in the late 12th century adopted Calvinist doctrines in the 16th century