Cathar

noun

Cath·​ar ˈka-ˌthär 

plural Cathari ˈka-thə-ˌrī 

-ˌrē

or Cathars

: a member of one of various ascetic and dualistic Christian sects especially of the later Middle Ages teaching that matter is evil and professing faith in an angelic Christ who did not really undergo human birth or death

Catharism

ˈka-thə-ˌri-zəm 

noun

Catharist

ˈka-thə-rist 

adjective

or Catharistic

ˌka-thə-ˈri-stik 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin cathari (plural), from Late Greek katharoi, from Greek, plural of katharos pure

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above