anti-Nicene
|an-ti-ni-cene|
/ˌæn.tiˈnaɪ.siːn/
against the Nicaean (Nicene) Creed
Etymology
'anti-Nicene' originates from Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'Nicene', which relates to Nicaea (Greek 'Νίκαια', Nikaia), the city where the Council of Nicaea was held.
'Nicene' comes from late Latin/Greek references to the city of Nicaea; English formed 'anti-' + 'Nicene' in theological and historical writing (especially from the 19th century onward) to describe opposition to the Council of Nicaea's doctrines.
Initially used to denote opposition to the decisions or doctrine of the Council of Nicaea; it is still used with that meaning but is sometimes confused with 'ante-Nicene' (meaning 'before Nicaea').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or writer who opposes the Nicene Creed or Nicene theology; an opponent of Nicene formulations.
Many anti-Nicenes argued for alternative understandings of Christ's nature.
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Adjective 1
opposed to the Nicene Creed or to the theology established by the Council of Nicaea (i.e., opposing Nicene/Trinitarian doctrine).
The scholar described several anti-Nicene writings that rejected the Trinitarian formulas adopted at Nicaea.
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Last updated: 2025/12/24 18:47