I. |thēə|dōsh(ē)ən adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
1.
[ Theodosi us I died 395 A.D. Roman emperor + English -an, adjective suffix]
: of or relating to Theodosius the Great under whom the Roman state undertook to enforce Christianity and orthodoxy
2.
[ Theodosi us II died 450 A.D. Eastern Roman emperor + English -an, adjective suffix]
: of or relating to Theodosius II or the Theodosian Code promulgated during his reign codifying imperial constitutions issued since the reign of Constantine I and including laws banning paganism and penalizing heresy
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
1.
[ Theodosi us died ab 538 A.D. patriarch of Alexandria + English -an, n. suffix]
: a follower of Theodosius of Alexandria the leader of the Monophysites in the 6th century
2.
[ Theodosi us, 16th century Russ. monk + English -an, n. suffix]
: a follower of the Russian monk Theodosius who preached in Lithuania in 1525 against idolatry and founded a sect practicing prayer for purification of articles acquired from unbelievers