Dŏn'a-tĭsm, n.

n. [L. Lat. Donatismus, Fr. Donatisme.] [Eccl. Hist.] The principles embraced by African schismatics of the 4th century, who were called Donatists, from Donatus, their leader. They held that though Christ was of the same substance with the Father, he was less than the Father; that there were no virtuous people in the church, and hence they affirmed the church to be extinct, and those embracing this view were re-baptized. Hook.