/her"euh see/ , n. , pl. heresies .
1. opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, esp. of a church or religious system.
2. the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine.
3. Rom. Cath. Ch. the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church.
4. any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc.
[ 1175-1225; ME heresie eresie haeresis school of thought, sect haíresis, lit., act of choosing, deriv. of haireîn to choose ]
Syn. 4. dissent, iconoclasm, dissension.