α. 1800s– Mahayanist, 1900s– Mahajanist (rare).
β. 1900s– Mahayanaist (rare).
Mahayanistn.adj.
/məhɑːˈjɑːnɪst/, /ˌmɑːhəˈjɑːnɪst/, U.S. /ˌmɑ(h)əˈjɑnəst/ A. n.
A follower or adherent of Mahayana Buddhism; a Mahayana Buddhist.
ΚΠ
1870 Theol. Rev. Apr. 194 Certain it is that the earliest [Buddhist scriptures] regarded Sakyamuni simply as the only man who had freed himself from the chain of suffering... The Mahayanists changed all this.
1907 D. T. Suzuki Outl. Mahyâyâna Buddhism 8 The distinction of Mahâyânists and Hînayânists became definite.
1951 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 71 240/1 The Mahāyānists offered the more attractive prospect of universal attainment of buddahood through bodhisattvaship.
2015 Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) (Nexis) 2 Sept. A clear indication that Vijeyarama in Anuradhapura had been used as a place of worship by the Mahayanists.
B. adj.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism or its followers or adherents; designating a Mahayana Buddhist.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Buddhism > Buddhist sects and groups > [adjective] > Mahayana
Mahayanist1880
Mahayanistic1891
Mahayanian1934
1880 J. Burgess in J. Fergusson & J. Burgess Cave Temples of India ii. i. 180 It is only after the fifth century that we have any very decidedly Mahâyânist sculptures.
1969 Indo-Iranian Jrnl. 12 49 The Mahāyānist Buddhists of Central Asia and Iran at that time.
2002 R. M. Davidson Indian Esoteric Buddhism ii. 29 Mahayanist texts gained ground, especially philosophical works but also scripture and literature.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.adj.1870