Sabbatarianism 
Sabbatarianism (sab-a-ta'ri-au-izm), . [<Sab- 
batarian + -!xi.~\ Ttie tenets or practices of 
the Sabbatarians. 
Sabbath (sab'ath), . and a. [Also dial, (or ar- 
chaically in def. 5) Sabbat; < ME. sabat, sabbat, 
sabot, sabote, rarely saboth, < AS. sabat = D. sab- 
bath = MHG. sabbatus, sabbato, G. sabbat = Sw. 
Dan. sabbat = OF. sabbat, sabat = Pr. niiMxit. 
sabat, sapte, sabte (also dissapte, < L. dies sab- 
bati, day of the Sabbath) = Sp. sdbado = Pg. 
sabbado = It. sabato, sabbato = W. sabatlt, mih- 
both, < L. sabbatum, usually in pi. sabbata, the 
Jewish sabbath, ML. also any feast-day, the 
solstice, etc., = Goth, sabbato, sabbatus, the Sab- 
bath, < Gr. od/?/?aroc, usually in pi. o-a/3/fara, the 
Jewish sabbath, in sing. Saturday, < Heb. shab- 
bdth, rest, sabbath, sabbath day, < shabdth, rest 
from labor. For other forms of the word, see 
etymology of Saturday.] I. n. 1. In the Jew- 
ish calendar, the seventh day of the week, now 
known as Saturday, observed as a day of rest 
from secular employment, and of religious ob- 
servance. 
Thou ne sselt do ine the daye of the sabat [Zeterday] 
thine nyedea, ue thine workes thet thou migt do ine othre 
dayea. AyerMte of Inu'yt (E. E. T. S.\ p. 7. 
How could the Jewish congregations of old be put in 
mind by their weekly Sabbaths what the world reaped 
through his goodness which did of nothing create the 
world? Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 71. 
He would this Sabbath should a figure be 
Of the blest Sabbath of Eternity. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 7. 
Glad we return'd up to the coasts of light 
Ere sabbath evening. Milton, P. L., viii. 248. 
The Christian festival [Sunday] was carefully distin- 
guished from the Jewish Sabbath, with which it never ap- 
pears to have been confounded till the close of the six- 
teenth century. Lecky, Europ. Morals, II. 258. 
2. The first day of the week, similarly ob- 
served by most Christian denominations: more 
properly designated Sunday, or the Lord's Day. 
The seventh day of the week, appointed by the fourth 
commandment, is still commonly observeo 1 by the Jews 
and by some Christian denominations. (See Sabbatarian.) 
But the resurrection of the Lord, on the first day of the 
week, being observed as a holy festival by the early church, 
soon supplanted the seventh day, though no definite law, 
either divine or ecclesiastical, directed the change. A 
wide difference of opinion exists among divines as re- 
gards both the grounds and the nature of this observance. 
On the one hand it is maintained that the obligation of 
Sabbath observance rests upon positive law as embodied 
in the fourth commandment ; that the institution, though 
not the original day, is of perpetual obligation ; that the 
day, but not the nature of its requirements, was provi- 
dentially changed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and 
the consequent action of the Christian church ; and that, 
to determine what is the nature of the obligations of the 
day, we must go back to the original commandment and 
the additional Jewish laws. This may be termed the Pu- 
ritan view, and it defines thus the nature of the Sabbath 
obligation : " This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the 
Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, 
and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not 
only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, 
words, and thoughts about their worldly employments 
and recreations ; but also are taken up the whole time in 
the public and private exercises of His worship, and in 
the duties of necessity and mercy. " (West. Conf. of Faith, 
xxi. 8.) The other view is that the fourth commandment 
is, strictly speaking, a part of the Jewish law, and not of 
perpetual obligation, though valuable as a guide t the 
Christian church ; that this commandment, like the rest 
of the Jewish ceremonial law, is abrogated in the letter 
by Christ ; and that the obligation of the observance of 
one day in seven as a day of rest and devotion rests upon 
the resurrection of the Lord, the usage of the church the 
apostolic practice, and the blessing of God which has 
evidently followed such observance. This is the view of 
the Roman Catholic Church, of the Greek Church, of many 
Anglicans, and of others, including the Protestants of the 
European continent. It naturally involves a much less 
strict regulation of the day. Between these two opin- 
ions there are a variety of views, the more common one 
probably being that the obligation to observe one day in 
seven as a day of holy rest is grounded upon the fourth 
commandment and is of perpetual obligation, but that the 
day to be observed and the nature of the observance are 
left to the determination of the Christian church in the 
exercise of a Christian liberty and discretion. Other terms 
for the Sabbath are Sunday, the Lord's Day, and First-day. 
Sabbath designates the institution as well as the day and 
is still in vogue in Jewish and Puritan usage and litera- 
ture, but properly indicates an obligation based upon the 
fourth commandment and a continuance of the Jewish ob- 
servance. Sunday (the Sun's day) is originally the title of 
a pagan holiday which the Christian holiday supplanted 
and is the common designation of the day. The Lord's 
Day (the day of the Lord's resurrection) is of Christian 
origin, but is chiefly confined to ecclesiastical circles and 
religious literature. First-day is the title employed by 
the triends to designate the day, their object being to 
avoid both pagan and Jewish titles. 
The Sabbath he [Mr. Cotton] began the evening before ; 
for which keeping of the Sabbath, from evening to evening 
he wrote arguments before his coming to New England 
and I suppose 'twas from his reason and practice that the 
C hristians of New-England have generally done so too 
C. Mather, Mag. Chris., Hi. 1. 
There were as many people as are usually collected at 
a muster, or on similar occasions, lounging about with- 
out any apparent enjoyment ; but the observation of this 
6286 
may serve me to make a sketch of the mode of spending 
the Sabbath by the majority of unmarried, young, middling 
class people near a great town. 
Hatpthome, Amer. Note Book, p. 18. 
The Lord's Day was strictly observed as a Sabbath, ac- 
cording to the Puritan view that its observance was en- 
joined in the decalogue. The Sabbath extended from the 
sunset of Saturday to the sunset of Sunday, according to 
the Jewish method of reckoning days. 
0. P. Fisher, Hist. Christian Church, p. 408. 
3. [/. c.] A time of rest or quiet ; respite from 
toil, trouble, pain, sorrow, etc. 
The branded slave that tugs the weary oar 
Obtains the sabbath of a welcome shore. 
Qvartes, Emblems, ill. 15. 
A silence, the brief sabbath of an hour, 
Reigns o'er the fields. Bryant, Noon. 
The picture of a world covered with cheerful home- 
steads, blessed with a sabbath of perpetual peace. 
J. Fisire, Amer. Pol. Ideas, p. 152. 
4. [/. c.] The sabbatical year among the Israel- 
ites. 
But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto 
the land, a sabbath for the Lord. Lev. JOT. 4. 
5. A midnight meeting supposed in the middle 
ages to have been held annually by demons, 
sorcerers, and witches, under the leadership of 
Satan, for the purpose of celebrating their or- 
gies. More fully called Witches' Sabbath. Also, 
archaically, Sabbat. 
Pomponacclo points out that part of the functions of 
the Witches' Sabbath consisted in dancing round a goat, a 
remnant of the worship of Pan, and that it is in memory 
of this that the wearing and setting up in the house of a 
horn as a counter charm is common in Italy. 
N. and Q., 6th ser., IX. 21. 
It [witchcraft] became ... a social body, and had a 
mystery uniting its members. . . . This mystery is known 
to us as the Witches' Sabbath. Keary, Prim. Belief, p. 513. 
The very source of witch-life may be said to have been 
the Sabbat. The Atlantic, LVIII. 467. 
Great Sabbath, Holy Sabbath, Easter Even. The 
name Great Sabbath was given to this day in the early 
church. Similarly, in John xix. 31, the Sabbath before 
Christ's resurrection is called great (Authorized Version, 
" an high day "). This name is still the official one in the 
Greek Church (in the fuller form, The Great and Holy 
Sabbath). In the Roman Catholic Church it is Sabbatum 
Sanctum, ' Holy Sabbath or Saturday.' 
II. a. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of 
the Sabbath (or, by common but less proper use, 
Sunday): as, Sabbath duties; Sabbath observ- 
ance ; Sabbath stillness Sabbath-day's journey. 
See journey. 
Sabbathaic (sab-a-tha'ik), a. [< Sabbathai (see 
Sabbathai.it) + -ic.~] Of or pertaining to the 
Sabbathaists. 
Sabbathaist (sab-a-tha'ist), . [< Sabbathai 
(see def.) + -ist.'] "l. A follower of Sabbathai 
Sevi of Smyrna, a seventeenth-century Jew, 
who claimed to be the Messiah. 2. Same as 
Sabbatian. 
Sabbatharian (sab-a-tha'ri-an), n. [< Sabbath 
+ -arian. Cf.Sabbatiirian.'] If. A Sabbatarian. 
These Sabbatharians are so call'd because they will not 
remove the Day of Rest from Saturday to Bunday. They 
leave off Work betimes on Friday Evening, and are very 
rigid Observers of their Sabbath. 
Quoted in Ashton's Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, 
[II. 135. 
2. Same as Southcottian. 
Sabbatharyt, a. [< Sabbath + -ar2.] Pertain- 
ing to or characteristic of the Sabbath. 
For they are of opinion that themseloes haue a super- 
fluous Sabbatharie soule, which on that day is plentifully 
sent in to them, to inlarge their heart and to expell care 
and sorrow. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 204. 
Sabbath-breaker (sab'ath-bra'ker), n. One 
who breaks or profanes the Sabbath, or Sunday. 
They say . . . that the usurer is the greatest Sabbath- 
breaker, because his plough goeth every Sunday. 
Bacon, Usury (ed. 1887). 
Sabbath-breaking (sab'ath-bra'"king), n. and 
a. I. n. The act of breaking or profaning the 
Sabbath, or Sunday; in the law of a number of 
the United States, a violation of the laws which 
forbid specified immoral, disturbing, or unne- 
cessary labors or practices on Sunday. 
II. a. Given to breaking the Sabbath, or 
Sunday. 
Sabbathian (sa-ba'thi-an), n. Same as Sabba- 
tlan. 
Sabbathless (sab'ath-les), a. [< sabbath + 
-less.'} Having no sabbath; without intermis- 
sion of labor. 
This incessant and Sabbathless pursuit of a man's fortune 
leaveth not that tribute which we owe to God of our 
time. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. :iSl. 
Sabbath-school (sab'ath-skoT), Same as 
Sunday-school. 
Sabbatia (sa-ba'ti-ii), H. [NL.(Adanson,1763), 
named after Liberatus Sabbati, an Italian bot- 
anist, who wrote a "Synopsis of the Plants 
of Rome" (1745).] A genus of gamopetalous 
Sabbati sm 
plants of the order Gentianeee, tribe Chirouiex, 
and subtribe Erytltreeese. It is characterized by flow- 
ers with from five to ten narrow calyx-lobes, a five- to 
twelve-lobed wheel-shaped corolla, as many stamens with 
short filaments in* 
serted on its throat, 
their anthers erect 
and afterward re- 
curved but not twist- 
ed, and a one-celled 
ovary with project- 
ing placentae and a 
thread-shaped style 
and stigma, the lat- 
ter with two entire 
and linear lobes. 
The 15 species are na- 
tives of the United 
States, extending in- 
to Cuba. They are 
annual or biennial 
herbs, erect and un- 
branched or pani- 
cled above, bear- 
Ing opposite sessile 
leaves, and white or 
rose-colored flowers, 
disposed in loose 
cymes. The flowers 
are usually numer- 
ous and handsome, 
marked by a small 
central yellow star, 
and in the largest 
species, S. Chloroides, i. Upper part of the stem with the flow- 
ers, a. Lower part of the stem withtheroot. 
a. a flower before anthesis, showing the sta- 
mens and style declined in opposite direc- 
/ -lY- t 
American Centaury \Sabbatia angu- 
are about 2 inches 
across. This species, 
from its color and 
locality, is known as 
the rote of Plymouth. The various species are called most 
often by the generic name Sabbatia, and sometimes by the 
book-name American centaury. The plant is a simple bit- 
ter tonic. S. chloroides, S. campestris, and S. angularis are 
introduced into flower-gardens. See bitter-bloom and rose- 
pink, 3. 
Sabbatian (sa-ba'tian), n. [< Sabbatius (see 
def.) + -an. ] A member of a Novatian sect of 
the fourth century, followers of Sabbatius, who 
adopted the Quartodeciman rule. See Quarto- 
deciman. Also Sabathian, Sabbathaist, Sabba- 
thian. 
Sabbatic (sa-bat'ik), a. [= F. sabbatique = 
Sp. sabdtico = Pg. sabbatico = It. sabatico, < 
LL. *sabbatictis, < Gr. aajiftartKof, of or belong- 
ing to the Sabbath, < o-a/3/farov, Sabbath: see 
Sabbath.'} Of, pertaining to, or resembling the 
Sabbath (Jewish or Christian) ; characteristic 
of or befitting the Sabbath ; enjoying or bring- 
ing an intermission of labor. 
They found themselves disobliged from that strict and 
necessary rest which was one great part of the sabbatic 
rites. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 210. 
This salutary view is only effectually pursued by due 
attendance on sabbatic duty. 
Stulcely, Palteographia Sacra, p. 99. (Latham.) 
sabbatical (sa-bat'i-kal), a. [< Sabbatic + -al.~\ 
1. Sabbatic; characterized by rest or cessa- 
tion from labor or tillage: as, the sabbatical 
years (see below). 
Likewise their seuenth yeare was SabbatMaUl. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 122. 
2. Recurring in sevens, or on every seventh 
(day, month, year, etc.). 
The sabbatical pool in Judea, which was dry six days, 
but gushed out in a full stream upon the sabbath. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 273. 
Taking the Semitic letters in their final order, we find 
that they fall into three groups, . . . the three sibilants or 
sabbatical letters occupying the three sabbatical places as 
the 7th, 14th, and 21st letters. Remembering the impor- 
tance attached among all Semitic races to the sacred plan- 
etary number seven, it seems probable that it was not by 
mere accident that the sibilants came to occupy these posi- 
tions. Isaac Taylor, The Alphabet, I. 192. 
Sabbatical year, every seventh year among the ancient 
Jews, during which no cultivation of the soil was to be 
practised, all spontaneous growth of the soil was common 
property, and all but foreign debtors were to be, at least 
for the year, released from their debts. 
Sabbatically (sa-bat'i-kal-i), adv. In a Sab- 
batic manner. 
Sabbatine (sab'a-tin), a. [< ML. sabbatinus, < 
L. sabbatum, Sabbath: see Sabbath."] Pertain- 
ing to the Sabbath (Saturday) : as, Sabbatine 
preachers. 
Sabbatism (sab'a-tizm), n. [= F. sabbatisme 
= It. sabbatismo, <! LL. sabbatismus, < Gr. aa/3/3a- 
Tiofiof, < ovz/J/tor/Ctiv, keep the Sabbath: see Sab- 
batiee.~\ Observance of the Sabbath or of a sab- 
bath ; a rest ; intermission of labor. 
That sabbatime or rest that the author to the Hebrews 
exhorts them to strive to enter into through faith and 
obedience. Dr. H. More, Def. of Moral Cabbala, ii. 
\Vh;it an eternal sabbatism, then, when the work of re- 
demption, sanctincation, preservation, glorification, are 
all finished, and his [God's] work more perfect than ever, 
and very good indeed! Baxter, Saints' Rest, i. 4. 
Christ, having entered into his Sabbatism in heaven, 
gives us a warrant for the Christian Sabbath or Lord's 
day, which has the same relation to Christ's present Sab- 
