Disbeliever
/ˌdɪs.bɪˈliː.vər/noun
A person who does not believe something or someone.
Did you know?The core of this word is the same ancient belief-root behind English *lief* and *believe*—so *dis-* doesn’t create a new idea, it negates an old one.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leubh-
“to care for, desire, love”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*ga-laubjaną
“to hold dear, trust, believe”
Old English
OE
ġelēfan
“to believe, trust”
Old English
OE
dis- + ġelēfan
“to not believe; to reject belief”
Middle English
ME
disbeleven
“to disbelieve, refuse belief”
Modern English
English
disbeliever
“a person who does not believe”