Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One whose chief interest is in the past; one who has regard principally to the past.
  • noun In theology, one who believes that the prophecies of the Apocalypse have already been nearly or entirely fulfilled.
  • Relating to the preterists or their views.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One whose chief interest is in the past; one who regards the past with most pleasure or favor.
  • noun (Theol.) One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have been already fulfilled.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One whose chief interest is in the past.
  • noun theology an adherent of preterism; one who believes that the Biblical prophecies of the Apocalypse refer to historical events which have already taken place

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a theologian who believes that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) have already been fulfilled

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From preter- + -ist.

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Examples

  • As for Revelation being literally true, look up the "preterist" interpretation.

    unknown title 2008

  • The latest drivel I read along the preterist path was Andrew Perriman´s "The Coming of the Son of Man".

    Review of Doubting Jesus' Resurrection James F. McGrath 2010

  • So far as the preterist argument with the words "this generation" in Matt. 24, this can be reconciled any number of ways which includes that Jesus was talking about the generation of the church or the church age.

    Debunking Debunking Christianity Christianity James F. McGrath 2009

  • You don't recognise "this generation will not pass away until these things have taken place" is quite easily explained by the partial preterist position to which I'm partial though not fully convinced since I haven't studied it a ton, which allows for some fulfillments in 70 AD and waits for others at the final Eschaton?

    Evolution and Liberal Christianity James F. McGrath 2009

  • Yet another difference that confuses the usual categories of eschatological interpretation is whether the book of Revelation is interpreted in a preterist, historicist, or futurist manner.

    The Myth/Reality of Antichrist - and the danger to America! 2008

  • I'm riding the preterist train, but it seems clear to me that Matthew, at the very least, understood the prediction in question to refer to the "end", since he refers to the Son of Man carrying out the final judgment immediately before saying that some standing there will not taste death before they see the Son of Man in his kingdom.

    Was Jesus Wrong? James F. McGrath 2008

  • There are more scriptural references to support a futurist view of eschatology, than a preterist view.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • You just gotta hop on board the preterist train to realize it.

    Was Jesus Wrong? James F. McGrath 2008

  • Since you don't do us the favor of proclaiming your church affiliation here, I can only assume that you have been taught some sort of a preterist view of the Revelation.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • A preterist is one who believes that most of the prophecies of the Apocalypse have been fulfilled in the past.

    The Myth/Reality of Antichrist - and the danger to America! 2008

Comments

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  • one who is overly fond of the past

    Nabokov, Pale Fire

    November 8, 2007

  • I've just oened Pale Fire for the first time tonight.

    November 8, 2007

  • Have your unabridged dictionary by your side. Note the word iridule. I think it was coined by Nabokov. I read Pale Fire so long ago I don't recall how it might be interpreted. Let me know if you figure out its meaning in its context.

    November 8, 2007

  • see iridule

    November 8, 2007

  • This word was chosen as Wordnik word of the day.

    November 11, 2009