infidel
UK[ˈɪnfɪd(ə)l]US[ˈɪnfɪd(ə)l]
n
A person who does not believe in a particular religion, especially the one that is regarded as the true religion.
n
A person who has no religious beliefs.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
fidel
in
not
fidel
faithful
Etymology
The word 'infidel' entered English in the 15th century via Middle French, tracing its ultimate origin to the Latin adjective infidelis, meaning "unfaithful" or "unbelieving". This Latin term is a compound of the negative prefix in- ("not") and the root fidelis ("faithful"), which itself derives from fides, meaning "faith" or "trust". Historically, the term was used broadly to denote someone unfaithful to a promise or a lord, but its meaning narrowed in European Christian contexts to specifically label those perceived as lacking the "true" (Christian) faith, particularly Muslims during the Crusades. Thus, the literal logic of "not faithful" evolved into the modern abstract meaning of a person who does not adhere to a dominant or specified religion.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + fidel (faithful)
- in: A Latin prefix meaning "not" or "without". It functions as a negative particle.
- fidel: From Latin fidelis, meaning "faithful" or "loyal". It functions as the core root conveying the concept of faith.
Examples
The medieval crusaders viewed the Muslim defenders as infidels.
The concept of religious tolerance requires moving beyond labels like believer and infidel.
He was accused of being an infidel for questioning the church's doctrines.