non-communicantn.adj.
/ˌnɒnkəˈmjuːnᵻk(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌnɑnkəˈmjunək(ə)nt/ Christian Church.
A. n.
A person who does not receive communion, esp. at a particular celebration; a person who is not a communicant member of a particular Church, esp. the Church of England. Also: a person who refrains from taking communion at services of an established church (historical). Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > exclusion from communion > [noun] > person not communicating
non-communicant1561
non-communionist1644
society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > exclusion from communion > [noun] > because of refusal > person characterized by
non-communicant1561
non-communionist1644
1561–2 Edinb. Dean of Guild Accts. in G. Hay Archit. Sc. Post-Reformation Churches (1957) 179 Ane travis for holding forth of the non communicants.
1566 J. Martiall Treat. Crosse ii. 6 Ægernesse in searching after bokes, and trouble in seeking after non communicants.
1598 in J. Morris Troubles Catholic Forefathers (1877) (modernized text) 3rd Ser. 283 Recusants and non-communicants in the Ainsty:..James Thwaites, Esq., a non-communicant..George Reynold and one Geffrey, serving-men to the said James, non-communicants..Robert Shawe, gentleman, and Jane his wife, non-communicants.
1602 R. Tyrie 5 Godlie Serm. 146 As for the common sort of them, which are contemptuous recusants and Non communicants.
1642 in Acts Gen. Assembly Church of Scotl. (1843) 56 The Assembly would enjoyn every Presbyterie to proceed against non-communicants, whether Papists or others, according to the act of Parliament made thereanent.
1690 J. Norris Christian Blessedness 115 There is such a thing as an Unworthy Non-Communicant, as well as an Unworthy Communicant.
1708 Brit. Apollo 15–17 Dec. Persons, who have been hitherto Non-Communicants.
1855 W. E. Scudamore Comm. Laity 65 The other non-communicants being dismissed by the proclamation of the deacon.
1876 Prayer-bk. Interleaved 169 Non-communicants then left the quire.
1886 Dict. National Biogr. VII. 403/1 Burnet was perfectly willing that no non-communicants should be capable of bearing office.
1952 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 24 271/1 It seems..probable that the Christian Democratic parties would have large numbers of supporters who were not communicants... Yet these noncommunicants are in effect voting the Catholic position.
1966 Jrnl. Philos. 63 26 The two shorter sections..will be somewhat incomprehensible to the noncommunicant of Sartrean philosophy.
1991 Guardian (Nexis) 26 May 26 His very conservative liturgical practice and more significantly his steadfast refusal to celebrate the marriages of non-communicants..made it almost impossible for him to take a normal parish.
B. adj.
Not receiving communion.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > exclusion from communion > [adjective]
unhouseled1532
unreceiving1566
uncommunicant1600
non-communicating1691
non-communicant1866
1866 A. Stevens Centenary Amer. Methodism 216 Adding three non-communicant members of its congregations for each communicant, it [sc. Methodism] has under its influence 7,604,656 souls.
1872 Catholic World Aug. 698/2 Certain individuals classified as probationers and non-communicant adherents.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 6 June 8/1 The idea of a non-communicant people was a mediæval corruption.
1941 E. B. Greene Relig. & State 92 The communicant members of the church.., who were more likely to be orthodox than their noncommunicant associates.
1974 William & Mary Q. 31 471 Their noncommunicant brethren who could not have their children baptized unless the church adopted the half-way covenant.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1561