Meth"o*dist , a. Of or pertaining to the sect of Methodists; as, Methodist hymns; a Methodist elder.
Meth"o*dist (?), n. [Cf.
F. méthodiste. See Method.]
1. One who
observes method. [Obs.]
2. One of
an ancient school of physicians who rejected observation and founded their practice on reasoning and theory. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Theol.)
One of a
sect of Christians, the outgrowth of a small association called the "Holy Club," formed at Oxford University, A.D. 1729, of which the most conspicuous members were John Wesley and his brother Charles; -- originally so called from the methodical strictness of members of the club in all religious duties.
4.
A person of strict piety; one who lives in
the exact observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in contempt or ridicule.
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