Main Entry: Man·i·chae·an

Variant(s): or Man·i·che·an \ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ən\ or Man·i·chee \ˈma-nə-ˌkē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Late Latin manichaeus, from Late Greek manichaios, from Manichaios Manes diedab a.d. 276 Persian founder of the sect

Date: 1556

1 : a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism originating in Persia in the third century a.d. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism
2 : a believer in religious or philosophical dualism

— Manichaean or Manichean adjective

— Man·i·chae·an·ism or Man·i·che·an·ism \ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

— Man·i·chae·ism or Man·i·che·ism \ˈma-nə-(ˌ)kē-ˌi-zəm\ noun