in|fi|del

in|fi|del «IHN fuh duhl, -dehl», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a person who does not believe in religion in general; unbeliever; disbeliever.

2. a person who does not accept a particular religion. During the Crusades, Muslims called Christians infidels.

3. a person who does not accept Christianity: »

Under the banner of Christianity, the Crusaders fought the Saracens and other infidels.

4. a person who is not a supporter or follower of a cause, idea, or the like: »

[They] carefully shun the board of education offices to avoid the thunderbolts that would, they believe, shortly strike the infidels (Dan O'Neil).

–adj.

1. not believing in religion.

2. not accepting a particular faith, especially the Christian or the Muslim faith.

3. rejecting the Christian religion.

4. of or like unbelievers or infidels.

╂[< Old French infidele, learned borrowing from Latin īnfidēlis unfaithful, unbelieving < in- not + fidēlis faithful < fidēs faith < fīdere to trust]