[a. med.L. theologaster (Luther, 1518), f. theolog-us theologian: see -ASTER.] A shallow or paltry theologian; a smatterer or pretender in theology.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. The like measure is offered unto God himself by a company of theologasters.
1642. H. More, Song Soul, Interpr. Words, Superficiall conceited Theologasters … having but the surface and thin imagination of divinity.
1744. Warburton, Rem. Occas. Refl. I. App. 134. This sorely distresses our Theologaster.
1888. Schaff, Hist. Chr. Ch., VI. III. lix. 322. The furious decree of the Parisian theologasters.
Hence Theologastric a., of or pertaining to a theologaster; in quot. as sb. a theologaster.
1894. Froude, Erasmus’ Life & Lett., iv. 65. I am speaking merely of the theologastrics of our own time, whose brains are the rottenest.
