NICOL A I TANS

One of the earliest Christian sects, mentioned in the Revelations of St. John, where the angel of God reproaches the church of Pergamos with harbouring persons of this denomination. They are there characterized as inclining to the licentious and pagan practices of the Gentiles;but the fathers have also accused them of partaking in a great measure of the Gnostic opinions. It is doubtful, however, whether on this point there be not some confusion between the Nicol a i tans of the first and the followers of Nicol a us of the second century. (See Mosheim (transl. 1790), i., 143. Oiescler's Text Book (transl.), i., 69.) NICOTl' NA. A poisonous alkaline base, extracted from the leaves and seed of the Nicotiana tabacum, or common tobacco. It derives its name from Nicot, a French man, who, about 1500, first sent tobacco into France. 830 [s. 844]