old light
/ˌəʊld ˈlʌɪt/Christian Church. Now historical
adjective
Of, relating to, or holding the views of the Old Lights.
noun
A person holding conservative religious views; an anti-revivalist; specifically a member of any of several Protestant churches in Scotland and North America from which schismatic groups split during the 18th and 19th centuries; (also, chiefly in plural) any of the groups to which these members belonged, especially the Scottish groups which came together to form the Synod of United Original Seceders; the doctrine or theology propounded by such a group.
- For details of particular groups and churches, see note s.v. new light..
Origin
Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), writer and dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. From old + light, after new light.