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Wesleyan

Wesleyan

7.9
A person who follows the Christian teaching of John Wesley
  • noun
  • /ˈwɛzliən/
translation icon : wesleyano
  • She was raised as a Wesleyan and cherished the denomination's emphasis on holiness.

Examples

  • Many Wesleyans gather every Sunday for worship.

  • In the 19th century, many Wesleyans were active in social reform movements.

  • His grandfather was a dedicated Wesleyan who rarely missed church services.

  • Is she a Wesleyan or a Baptist?

  • His grandfather was a dedicated Wesleyan who rarely missed church services.

  • In the 19th century, many Wesleyans were active in social reform movements.

  • She was raised as a Wesleyan and cherished the denomination's emphasis on holiness.

Synonyms

Wesleyan Methodists
vsWesleyan
7.3

People who follow the Christian teachings of John Wesley and belong to churches of his movement

is broader, covering any follower or supporter beyond formal members

Compounds

A Christian church group that follows John Wesley's teachings

People who follow the Christian teachings of John Wesley and belong to churches of his movement

How Committed

devotee
25 6.0
Wesleyan
7.9
adherent
20 6.6
supporter
817 1.0
sympathizer
37 4.8

Surface Forms

Wesleyan singular
Wesleyans plural

Morphology

Wesleyan = Wesley (transparent) = Wesley + an

Formed by the productive English suffix '-an' attached to the name 'Wesley' to indicate belonging or relation; meaning 'a follower/supporter' is the straightforward agent/affiliation reading.

Etymology

Wesleyan comes from the name Wesley (John Wesley, a church leader in the 1700s) plus the ending -an, which means 'related to' or 'from'. So a Wesleyan is a person who follows Wesley's ideas or supports the Methodist movement, which is why the word means a follower of Wesleyanism.