01 n. One who speculates or forms opinions independently of the authority of others; esp., in the sphere or religion, one who forms opinions inde…
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1.
One who speculates or forms opinions independently of the authority of others; esp., in the sphere or religion, one who forms opinions independently of the authority of revelation or of the church; an unbeliever; -- a term assumed by deists and skeptics in the eighteenth century.“Atheist is an old-fashioned word: I'm a freethinker, child.” — Addison.
Syn.
Infidel; skeptic; unbeliever. See Infidel.