Manichaean
noun
Man·i·chae·an ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ən 
variants or Manichean or Manichee
ˈma-nə-ˌkē
1
: a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism (see dualism sense 3) originating in Persia in the third century a.d. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism
2
: a believer in religious or philosophical dualism
Manichaean adjective
or Manichean
Manichaeanism noun
or Manicheanism
ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ə-ˌni-zəm
Manichaeism noun
or Manicheism
ˈma-nə-(ˌ)kē-ˌi-zəm
Word History
Etymology
Late Latin manichaeus, from Late Greek manichaios, from Manichaios Manes died about a.d. 276 Persian founder of the sect
First Known Use
1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1