Also 6 athisme. [a. F. athéisme (16th c. in Littré), f. Gr. ἄθεος: see ATHEAL and -ISM. Cf. It. atheismo and the earlier ATHEONISM.] Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God. Also, Disregard of duty to God, godlessness (practical atheism).
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xx. 310. Athisme, that is to say, vtter godlesnes.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. i. § 3. A little or superficial knowledge of philosophy may incline the mind of man to atheism.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 119, ¶ 5. Hypocrisy in one Age is generally succeeded by Atheism in another.
1859. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), II. 75. Whatever doubt or doctrinal Atheism you and your friends may have, don’t fall into moral Atheism.
