Foxian

English

Etymology

From Fox or Foxe +‎ -ian.

Noun

Foxian (plural Foxians)

1. (historical) A follower of George Fox, especially one who believed strictly in the theology of the inward light.
   • 1872, Publications of the Narragansett Club: George Fox digg'd out out of his burrowes, page 257:

     […] but while they own what G. Fox hath written, and that he writ it with a perfect spirit: I say untill they do make some Recantation or Retractation: or shew the Reasons why they doe not, H. Norton who keeps more plainly to his Principles is to windward of them, and the Foxians do but strip themselves naked to be more derided and scorned as the more notorious Juglers and Dissemblers .

   • 2007, Roger Williams, The Complete Writings of Roger Williams, page 448:

     But to the mystery of Iniquity here insinuated against them, Is it not a proud trick of a Pharisee thus to scorn the poor Heathens and Publicans, as not worthy to know the Foxians high Names, or take up such sacred Names and Mysteries upon their Lips?

   • 2024, Brian Ogren, Kabbalah and the Founding of America:

     Lodowick clarifies that there is a small sect of more learned Quakers including Keith and Robert Barclay, whom he calls "semi-foxians,” which allows for something substantial beyond the mere internal Light of the pure Foxians, who were followers of the English dissenter George Fox (1624-1691) .

Adjective

Foxian

1. Pertaining to the writings of John Foxe.
   • 1608, Henry Fitzsimon, A Catholike Confvtation of M. Iohn Riders Clayme of Antiquitie, page 308:

     All this by his former woords, my Caualiero is bound to beleeue: for these are Foxian Martyrs, with whom he sayth, he is consenting in ynitie and veritie of Doctrin.

   • 1635, George Hakewill, An Apologie Or Declaration of the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World., page 174:

     You bid mee take the chiefe Apostles and thir successors with all the old Confessors, and compare them with the Foxian Confessors.

   • 2008, Jennifer Summit, Memory's Library: Medieval Books in Early Modern England, page 170:

     In so doing, he transforms the Foxian compulsion to distinguish true martyrs from false ones —and thus to differentiate his own saint-making project from medieval hagiography—into a model of textual criticism, directed at detecting and desanctifying the false martyr through the critical medium of marginalia.