I. ˈpräd.əstənt, ˈprätə-; also prəˈtestənt in sense 2b noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin protestant-, protestans, present participle of protestari to protest
1. usually capitalized
a. : one of the German princes favoring the Lutheran movement who presented at the Diet of Spires in 1529 a protest opposing the annulment of an earlier decree allowing each prince to manage the religious affairs of his territory and defending freedom of conscience and the right of minorities
b. archaic : a member of the Anglican Church
c. : a member of a Protestant religious body
d. : a Christian not of a Roman Catholic or an Eastern church
2.
a. : one who makes a declaration
a protestant on behalf of the life of reason — J.M.Grossman
b. : one who makes or enters a protest
the percentage of protestants seems pitifully inadequate for the needs of the hour — M.L.Cooke
protestants against these books — W.M.Houghton
the protestants against war throughout the country — W.A.White
3. sometimes capitalized : one who applies Protestant principles elsewhere than in religion
a history which reflects a peculiarly protestant attitude … evolved, quite peacefully, from liberal theology — Times Literary Supplement
moral protestants like their religious counterparts — H.D.Aiken
II. see pronunc of noun adjective
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from protestant, n.
1. usually capitalized : of or relating to one of the Christian churches separating from the Roman Catholic Church in the Reformation of the 16th century or from another Protestant church to defend beliefs and practices held vital (as the Reformation principles of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, the authority and sufficiency of the Bible, and the right and duty of individual judgment in matters of faith), usually rejecting as unscriptural the ceremonial reverence of the saints, monasticism, clerical celibacy, and all but two sacraments, and marked by nonliturgical worship featuring preaching, emphasis on individual salvation or morality or on social reform, and sectarian divisions based on points of doctrine or observance
2. : making or sounding a protest
the two protestant ladies up and marched out — Time
it is still merely a protestant movement … whereby students mass themselves to protest — Nathaniel Peffer