[ad. med.L. Catharist-æ (= Gr. καθαρισταί, f. καθαρίζειν to purify). Cf. F. Cathariste.] A Paulician or Manichæan; also applied to similar sects; cf. CATHARAN.

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1600.  O. E., Repl. Libel, II. iii. 52. The Catharistes do boast much of their merits.

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1616.  Donne, Serm., Wks. 1839, VI. 103. The Catharists thought no creature of God pure, and therefore they brought in strange ceremonial purifications of those creatures.

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1630.  Prynne, Lame Giles, 12. The Novatian Catherist.

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1645.  Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 148. Like the vermin of an Indian Catharist, which his fond religion forbids him to molest.

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1832.  S. Maitland, Facts & Documents, 431. Any Catharist … of whatever sect.

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  Hence Catharistic a.

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1838.  G. S. Faber, An Inquiry, 103. From the Paulicians of the East to their Catharistic Successors in the West.

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