[Man.i.chae.an] or Man.i.che.an or Man.i.chee n [LL manichaeus, fr. LGk manichaios, fr. Manichaios Manes d. ab 276 a.d. Pers. founder of the sect] (1556) 1: a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism originating in Persia in the 3d century a.d. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism
2: a believer in religious or philosophical dualism -- Manichaean adj -- Man.i.chae.an.ism n -- Man.i.chae.ism n