Definitions For Originalist

Noun

ORIGINALIST (plural ORIGINALISTs) One who has, or tends to have, original ideas. One who aims to discover how the writers of a document intended it to be interpreted, and to interpret it in that way. (theology) Specifically, one who aims to discover how the writers of the jewish and christian scriptures intended them to be interpreted, and to interpret them in that way. 2009, Holy Writ: interpretation in law and religion, page 56: : Before explicating the possibility of a non-textualist strategy let me address Philipse's arguments in favour of textualism as appropriate method in theology. Some of these arguments appeal to the religious traditions, and thus suggest that a believer qua believer (rather than qua historian) has to be originalist. (US) Specifically, one who aims to discover how the writers of the United States constitution, constitution intended it to be interpreted, and to interpret it in that way.