Manichaeans
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: Manichees
The followers of Mani who taught that the universe is controlled by two antagonistic powers, viz. light or goodness (identified with God), and darkness, chaos, or evil. The system was the old Babylonian nature-worship modified by Christian and Persian influences, and its own influence on the Christian religion was, even so late as the 13th century, deep and widespread. St. Augustine was a member of the body for some nine years.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Manichaeans” mean?
The followers of Mani who taught that the universe is controlled by two antagonistic powers, viz. light or goodness (identified with God), and darkness, chaos, or evil. The system was the old Babylonian nature-worship modified by Christian and Persian influences, and its own influence on the Christian religion was, even so late as the 13th century, deep and widespread. St. Augustine was a member of the body for some nine years.
Is “Manichaeans” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.