Anabaptism

a member of any of various protestant sects, formed in europe after 1520, that denied the validity of infant baptism, baptized believers only, and advocated social and economic reforms as well as the complete separation of church and state.
archaic. (def 1).
of or relating to anabaptists or anabaptism.
historical examples

it was anabaptism of the original type and conducted on the old theologico-ethical lines.
german culture past and present ernest belfort bax

i do not propose to trace his evolution from anabaptism to agnosticism.
the book-bills of narcissus le gallienne, richard

it was in the year 1526 that anabaptism first made its appearance in str-ssburg.
german culture past and present ernest belfort bax

it was not so much positive doctrines as an att-tude of mind that was the ruling spirit in anabaptism and like movements.
german culture past and present ernest belfort bax

those who condemn the profession or art of soldiery, said sir james turner, smell rank of anabaptism and quakery.
military manners and customs james anson farrer

for the first few years of its existence anabaptism remained true to its original theologico-ethical principles.
german culture past and present ernest belfort bax

anabaptism was such a complicated movement that it presents peculiar difficulties.
a history of the reformation (vol. 2 of 2) thomas m. lindsay

meanwhile the new anabaptism spread and fermented along the rhine, and especially in holland.
german culture past and present ernest belfort bax

they cast upon him these reproaches, as is said, because he had fallen under suspicion of anabaptism.
letters of john calvin, volume i (of 4) jules bonnet

the government put down anabaptism, as a modern government might stamp out anarchism.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 5, slice 8 various

noun
a member of any of various 16th-century protestant movements that rejected infant baptism, insisted that adults be rebaptized, and sought to establish christian communism
a member of a later protestant sect holding the same doctrines, esp with regard to baptism
adjective
of or relating to these movements or sects or their doctrines
n.

1640s (as a christian doctrine, with capital a-, from 1570s), from medieval latin anabaptismus, from late greek anabaptismos, from ana- “up (in place or time), back again, anew” (see ana-) + baptismos “baptism” (see baptism).
n.

1530s, “one who baptizes over again,” from modern latin anabaptista, from latin anabaptismus “second baptism” (used in literal sense from 4c.; see anabaptism).

originally in english in reference to sect that practiced adult baptism and arose in germany 1521. probably so called because, as a new faith, they baptized converts who already had been baptized (as infants) in the older christian churches. modern branches only baptize once (adults) and do not actively seek converts. the name also was applied, usually opprobriously, to baptists, perhaps due to the multiple immersions of their baptisms.