Southcottiann.adj.
/saʊθˈkɒtɪən/, U.S. /saʊθˈkɑdiən/ A. n.
An adherent or follower of the teaching of Joanna Southcott (1750–1814), a prophet and writer who claimed to be the woman chosen to give birth to the divine incarnation, mentioned in Revelation 12.Quot. 2002 refers to a sealed wooden box of prophecies directed by Joanna Southcott to be opened by 24 bishops at a future time of national crisis.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > other sects and movements > Southcottian > [noun]
Southcottian1814
Sabbatharian1884
1808 J. Evans Sketch Denominations Christian World (ed. 11) Contents p. xxxvi Joanna Southcottians.]
1814 J. Grant Summary Hist. Eng. Church II. xii. 455 The Southcottians have actually prepared a magnificent cradle..for the reception of the celestial guest.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xvii. 28 It would be most unjust to rank the sect which regards him as its founder with the Muggletonians or the Southcotians.
1899 Dict. National Biogr. LIX. 322 The Southcottians would not receive him [sc. John Ward].
1918 W. D. Wallis Messiahs vi. 161 Joanna Southcott,..founder of the sect of the Southcottians, or Southcotters, declared herself, when past sixty, to be pregnant with another Messiah.
1958 J. Killham Tennyson & Princess iii. 55 The increase of ‘feminine’ qualities in the social thinking of his age has obvious counterparts in the opinions of..the Southcottians.
2002 Church Times 11 Oct. 26/1 The Box remains unopened, though it became well known in the early 20th century when modern Southcottians ran a highly visible campaign to get the bishops to open the Box.
B. adj.
Of or relating to Joanna Southcott, her prophecies, or her followers.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > other sects and movements > Southcottian > [adjective]
Southcottian1814
1814 J. Grant Summary Hist. Eng. Church II. xii. 497 The chief Southcottian doctrines..are by no means so unfavourable to holiness as has been generally rumoured and supposed.
1843 W. B. Harrison (title) Correspondence of the Southcottian Church.
1850 P. Crook War of Hats 36 Southcottian dupes—the crazed of unknown tongues.
1887 H. C. Lea Hist. Inquisition Middle Ages III. ii. 102 The Southcottian Church maintained its existence in London until the middle of the present century.
1953 Compar. Lit. 5 257 Except for the Southcottian phase we have no direct evidence that Blake associated with Sharp.
1987 J. R. Gillis in R. P. Maccubbin 'Tis Nature's Fault 39 Many women of similar plebeian origins were attracted to the asceticism of the Southcottian movement.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1814