Also 6 in Gr.-L. form theomachia. [ad. Gr. θεομαχία, f. θεός god + -μαχία fighting.]
† 1. A striving or warring against God; opposition to the will of God. b. spec. See quot. Obs.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 327. The whole religion of Papistrie … is Theomachia and nothing else.
1598. Bacon, Sacr. Medit., xi. (Arb.), 127. Atheisme and Theomachie rebelleth and mutineth against the power of God.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter ii. 3. A theomachy, a desperate war against heaven.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 134. This theomachy or rebelling against God.
b. 1656. Blount, Glossogr., Theomachy, a warring or fighting against the gods, as the old Giants are feigned to have done.
2. A battle or strife among the gods: esp. in reference to that narrated in Homer’s Iliad.
1858. Gladstone, Homer, II. ii. 77. When we come to discuss the position of Latona, both generally and in the Theomachy. Ibid. (1865), Farewell Addr. Edin. Univ., 29. Xanthos, a river god, appears in the Theomachy. Ibid. (1878), Prim. Homer, vi. § 27. 83. Artemis … is sorely belaboured, in the Theomachy, by the strong arm of Hera.
Hence [or from Gr. θεομάχ-ος] Theomachist, one who fights against God.
1794. Mathias, Purs. Lit. (1798), 18. The continued labours of the arch Theomachist of the age,… that … conflict which he maintained, during … a long and impious life, against the spiritual ‘kingdoms of God and of his Christ.’
1876. T. Hardy, Desperate Remedies, viii. To resist fate with the vindictive determination of a Theomachist.
