Mennonites

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A religious group originating from the Anabaptist tradition, known for their commitment to pacifism and simple living
2. Members of a Christian denomination that emphasizes nonviolence and communal living, often characterized by traditional customs
3. A community of believers who adhere to Anabaptist principles, practicing faith through nonconformity and community service

Etymology: Mennonites take their name from Menno Simons (1496–1561), a former Catholic priest from Friesland in the Netherlands who left the Church around 1536 and became a leading figure among the Anabaptists, a movement that rejected infant baptism in favour of adult believer's baptism. Dutch and North German followers who adopted his teachings were called "Mennisten" by their opponents, and the name stuck as a label for the group as a whole rather than as a term of praise. The name is a plural of "Mennonite," formed in English by adding the suffix "-ite" (a common way of naming followers of a person or movement, as in "Lutheran" or "Hussite") to Menno. The English form entered use in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and it carries no connection to the word "mention" or to any Latin root. Menno himself never wanted the followers named after him, preferring to be called simply Christians or brethren.