Prot"es*tant (?), n. [F. protestant, fr. L. protestans, -antis, p. pr. of protestare. See Protest, v.]
One who protests; -- originally applied to those who adhered to Luther, and protested against, or made a solemn declaration of dissent from, a decree of the Emperor Charles V. and the Diet of Spires, in 1529, against the Reformers, and appealed to a general council; -- now used in a popular sense to designate any Christian who does not belong to the Roman Catholic or the Greek Church.
© Webster 1913.
Prot"es*tant (?), a. [Cf. F. protestant.]
1.
Making a protest; protesting.
2.
Of or pertaining to the faith and practice of those Christians who reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church; as, Protestant writers.
© Webster 1913.