MANICHAEAN

or Manichean or Manichee noun Etymology: Late Latin manichaeus, from Late Greek manichaios, from Manichaios Manes died ab A.D. 276 Persian founder of the sect Date: 1556 a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism originating in Persia in the third century A.D. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism, a believer in religious or philosophical dualism, ~ or Manichean adjective ~ism or Manicheanism noun Manichaeism or Manicheism noun