%tanist%

n. [ LL. lutanista, fr. lutana lute. See Lute the instrument. ] A person that plays on the lute. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Mintanus, a Phrygian enthusiast of the second century, who claimed that the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, dwelt in him, and employed him as an instrument for purifying and guiding men in the Christian life. -- Mon`ta*nis"tic Mon`ta*nis"tic*al a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in paleobotany. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. platanista a sort of fish, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. plataniste. ] (Zool.) The soosoo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A very wicked person. [ R. ] Granger. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A worshiper of Satan. [ PJC ]

n. [ Ir. tanaiste, tanaise, second, the second person in rank, the presumptive or apparent heir to a prince. ] In Ireland, a lord or proprietor of a tract of land or of a castle, elected by a family, under the system of tanistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

This family [ the O'Hanlons ] were tanists of a large territory within the present county of Armagh. M. A. Lower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Tanist. ] In Ireland, a tenure of family lands by which the proprietor had only a life estate, to which he was admitted by election. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The primitive intention seems to have been that the inheritance should descend to the oldest or most worthy of the blood and name of the deceased. This was, in reality, giving it to the strongest; and the practice often occasioned bloody feuds in families, for which reason it was abolished under James I. [ 1913 Webster ]