CATHAR

noun (plural ~i or ~s) Etymology: Late Latin cathari (plural), from Late Greek katharoi, from Greek, plural of katharos pure Date: 1634 a member of one of various ascetic and dualistic Christian sects especially of the later Middle Ages teaching that matter is evil and professing faith in an angelic Christ who did not really undergo human birth or death, ~ism noun ~ist or ~istic adjective