nicodemite · noun — someone who hides their faith or belief in something; a secret adherent. It carries an Arena rating of 1649, earned across 55 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, nicodemite ranks #281 of 17,176 for Most Incisive Words, #747 of 17,197 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #1,510 of 17,201 for Funniest Words, #3,224 of 17,146 for Most Storied Words.
nicodemite is pronounced /nɪkəˈdiːmʌɪt/.
Why “nicodemite” is a great word
NICODEMITE — [Noun] A person who conceals their true religious faith or beliefs, especially for reasons of prudence or safety. From the Middle French Nicodemite, from Nicodemus (the Pharisee who visited Jesus secretly at night) + the suffix -ite (denoting an adherent). Unlike a hypocrite, who feigns belief for social advantage, or an apostate, who has renounced faith entirely, a Nicodemite is a genuine believer forced into a public pantomime of denial. It is the heirloom crucifix worn beneath a state-prescribed uniform, the forbidden text sewn into the lining of an orthodox coat, the calm face that betrays nothing while the mind rehearses a silent creed—a testament to belief’s stubborn survival through the quiet art of disappearance.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French Nicodemite, corresponding to Nicodemus + -ite, after a Pharisee in the Gospel of John who secretly comes to Jesus for instruction while outwardly remaining a pious Jew.
noun
- Someone who hides their faith or belief in something; a secret adherent.e.g.“The democratic dividends for Scotland have been kept well off the agenda by the big-business-led no campaign and its Nicodemite fellow travellers – a few of whom are writers.” — 2014 July 23, Alan Warner, The Guardian:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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