Obs. [ad. Gr. καταβαπτιστής ‘coined by Gregory Nazianzen as opp. to βαπτιστής’ (L. and S.); f. κατά down + βαπτιστής one who dips, baptizer.]
‘One that abuseth or depraveth, or is an adversary to the sacrament of Baptism’ (Blount, Glossogr., 1656). A nickname of 16–17th c. for any one who rejected the orthodox doctrine of baptism.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xv. (1634), 648. Catabaptists, which denie that we be rightly baptised, because we were baptised by wicked men and idolaters in the Popish Kingdome.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. vii. 128. The receiving of Infants to holy Baptisme is a matter of so high consequence, that we justly Brand our Catabaptists with heresie, for denying it.
1642. Featly, Dippers Dipt, 23 (R.). They [Anabaptists] are called also Catabaptists, from the preposition κατὰ and βαπτίζω, signifying an abuser or prophaner of baptism.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist., I. VI. ii. 227. The Anabaptists, whom he calls Catabaptists.
1864. Mem. W. Bull, ii. (1865), 27. He was a Catabaptist, holding that the ordinance of baptism was to be administered only to Jews and Pagans.
So † Catabaptism; † Catabaptistical a.; † Catabaptistry [cf. ANABAPTISTRY], the doctrine of Catabaptists.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Answ., III. Wks. 1851, I. 368. Neither is this any title of ‘catabaptistry.’
1655. J. Goodwin (title), Cata-Baptism; or new Baptism waxing old, and ready to vanish away.
1661. Gauden, Consid., 12. The Liturgy … vindicates the … Catholick use of Infant Baptiam against the Anabaptistical novelty and Catabaptistical perverseness.
