What does "wilkinsonian" mean?
A follower of the Quaker preacher Jemima Wilkinson, known as the Public Universal Friend; a member of the Universal Friends.
Wilkinsonian
/ˌwɪl.kɪnˈsəʊ.ni.ən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A follower of the Quaker preacher Jemima Wilkinson, known as the Public Universal Friend; a member of the Universal Friends.
- Grammar: wilkinsonian is listed as adj, noun.
- Usage evidence: She began to preach, announcing herself as "the Publick Universal Friend," and soon [...succeeded] in organizing groups of Wilkinsonian celibates at New Milford, Conn., and at East Greenwich and South Kingston, R.I.
How to use "wilkinsonian"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wilkinsonian" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "wilkinsonian" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "wilkinsonian" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "wilkinsonian" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wilkinsonian" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with a nearby word before publishing so the final choice matches the reader's expectations.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "wilkinsonian", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A follower of the Quaker preacher Jemima Wilkinson, known as the Public Universal Friend; a member of the Universal Friends.
"The Wilkinsonians are equally to the present point. They lived, for the most part, not more than twenty- five miles from Manchester, New York, the town in which Mormonism was first preached; […]"
- 2 A supporter of any of a number of other people named Wilkinson.
"If Mr. Doulton does not know what consistency is, teach him, and place Mr. Wilkinson at the head of the poll. That was regarded as "vituperation," and the St. Giles's poet was called into play. This was the shot he fired at the Wilkinsonians […]"
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to the Quaker preacher Jemima Wilkinson, known as the Public Universal Friend, or to the Society of Universal Friends.
"She began to preach, announcing herself as "the Publick Universal Friend," and soon [...succeeded] in organizing groups of Wilkinsonian celibates at New Milford, Conn., and at East Greenwich and South Kingston, R.I."
- 2 Pertaining to any of a large number of other people with the surname Wilkinson,
"A retreat was not to be thought of, and in case any craven spirit should exist amongst the four thousand, (save one,) breasts animated with Wilkinsonian ardour, (perhaps as James has it "as an additional stimulus to glory") a picked man was […]"
Example
"She began to preach, announcing herself as "the Publick Universal Friend," and soon [...succeeded] in organizing groups of Wilkinsonian celibates at New Milford, Conn., and at East Greenwich and South Kingston, R.I."
Common questions
How do you use "wilkinsonian" in a sentence?
She began to preach, announcing herself as "the Publick Universal Friend," and soon [...succeeded] in organizing groups of Wilkinsonian celibates at New Milford, Conn., and at East Greenwich and South Kingston, R.I.
How do you pronounce "wilkinsonian"?
Pronounced /ˌwɪl.kɪnˈsəʊ.ni.ən/.
Etymology
From Wilkinson + -ian.