|mesē|anik, -nēk adjective
Etymology: from (assumed) New Latin Messianicus, from Late Latin Messias + Latin -anicus (as in Latin Romanicus Romanic)
1. often capitalized : of, relating to, or being a messiah; as
a. : of or relating to the Messiah expected by the Hebrews
b. : of or relating to Jesus Christ as the Messiah
2. sometimes capitalized : of or relating to a nativistic religious cult (as one whose prophet professes salvation of the native population and destruction of foreign culture and influence)
the messianic element common to the present sect and nonliterate nativistic efforts — L.C.May
3. sometimes capitalized : mystically idealistic in a manner suggestive of messiahship and often in an aggressive or crusading spirit
sustained by a messianic hope of social perfection — T.E.Utley
a messianic sense of historic mission — Edmond Taylor
• mes·si·an·i·cal·ly -nə̇k(ə)lē, -nēk-, -li adverb , sometimes capitalized