Wiclif

9.9

An English religious thinker in the 1300s who criticized the Catholic Church and helped later reformers

proper noun

: Wiclif

John Wiclif was a key figure in the early Reformation.

Examples

The teachings of Wiclif challenged many practices of the medieval church.
Scholars often study Wiclif when exploring the roots of the Reformation.
Wiclif was a forerunner of later reformers such as Martin Luther.
Many consider Wiclif the morning star of the Reformation.
Wiclif was a forerunner of later reformers such as Martin Luther.
Scholars often study Wiclif when exploring the roots of the Reformation.
The teachings of Wiclif challenged many practices of the medieval church.

Synonyms

Wycliffe

vsWiclif

1 9.9

An English religious teacher who criticised the Catholic Church in the 1300s

is the same name but with an alternate ending in spelling

Wyclif

vsWiclif

1 9.9

A 14th-century English priest who criticized the Catholic Church and translated the Bible into English

is the same person but uses a different spelling form

John Wycliffe

vsWiclif

1 8.9

An English priest who criticises the Catholic Church, inspires early Protestant ideas, and helps translate the Bible into English

is the same figure but focuses more on inspiring later reform

John Wyclif

vsWiclif

1 9.9

An English religious thinker who criticized the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages

is the same person but stresses doctrinal criticism and groundwork

John Wiclif

vsWiclif

9.9

An English religious teacher who challenged the Catholic Church before the Reformation

is the same historical figure but uses a milder descriptive tone

Surface Forms

Wiclif main

Etymology

Wiclif is a place-name style surname from old English parts wic 'settlement' and clif 'cliff', so it originally meant a 'settlement by the cliff'. That's why the English theologian Wiclif has a family name that points to a place, not to a job or idea.