[f. as prec. (senses 1, 3) + -IST.]
1. An adherent or follower of the ecclesiastical principles of Robert Brown. (See prec.)
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 74. Diuers new phangled felows sprong vp of late, as the Brownists.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xlvi. 219. The Brownist and the Barrowist, goe hand in hand together.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. ii. 34. I had as liefe be a Brownist, as a Politician.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., I. iii. (1852), 64. Shake off the name of Brownist: it is a mere nickname, and a brand for the making of Religion odious.
1853. Marsden, Early Purit., 137. The brownists and the anabaptists were the first seceders from the church of England at home.
2. Med. An adherent of the BRUNONIAN system.
Hence (in sense 1) Brownistical a.
1636. W. Sampson, Vow Breaker, I b. By the vertue of his good liquor hee’s able to convert any Brownisticall sister.
1736. Neal, Hist. Purit., III. 456. Martin Mar-Prelate and the rest of the Brownistical pamphlets in the reign of Qu. Elizabeth.
1846. T. M‘Crie, Alex. Henderson, 35. Some persons who were tainted with Brownistical and Independent notions, had insinuated themselves into those private societies for religious exercises.
