any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world.
2.
(sometimes initial capital letter) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot.
3.
the first or the best-known Christian missionary in any region or country.
4.
Eastern Church. one of the 70 disciples of Jesus.
5.
the title of the highest ecclesiastical official in certain Protestant sects.
6.
(among the Jews of the Christian epoch) a title borne by persons sent on foreign missions.
7.
one of the 12 administrative officials of the Mormon Church.
8.
a pioneer of any reform movement.
9.
Nautical. a knighthead, esp. one having its top projecting and used as a bitt or bollard.
[Origin: bef. 950; ME, var. of apostel, apostol, OE apostol (cf. OFris apostol, OHG apostol(o), G Apostel) < LL apostolus < Gk apóstolos lit., one who is sent out; akin to apostéllein to send off; see apo-. Compare, with loss of initial unstressed a-, ME postle, postel, OE postol (> ON postuli) OHG postul]
Apostle One of a group made up especially of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus to preach the gospel.
A missionary of the early Christian Church.
A leader of the first Christian mission to a country or region.
One who pioneers an important reform movement, cause, or belief: an apostle of conservation.
A passionate adherent; a strong supporter.
One of the 12 members of the administrative council in the Mormon Church.
One who pioneers an important reform movement, cause, or belief: an apostle of conservation.
A passionate adherent; a strong supporter.
[Middle English, from Old English apostol and from Old French apostle, both from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos, messenger, from apostellein, to send off : apo-, apo- + stellein, to send; see stel- in Indo-European roots.]
O.E. apostol "messenger," but esp. of the 12 witnesses sent forth by Jesus to preach his Gospel, from L.L. apostolus, from Gk. apostolos "messenger, person sent forth," from apostellein "send away, send forth," from apo- "away" (see apo-) + stellein "to send" (cf. epistle). The current form of the word, predominant since 16c., is infl. by O.Fr. apostle (12c.), from the same L.L. source. Fig. sense of "chief advocate of a new principle or system" is from 1810. Apostles, short for "The Acts and Epistles of the Apostles," is attested from c.1400.
(often with capital) a man sent out to preach the gospel in the early Christian church, especially one of the twelve disciples of Christ Example: Matthew and Mark were apostles.
A*pos"tle\, n. [OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L. apostolus, fr. Gr. ? messenger, one sent forth or away, fr. ? to send off or away; ? from + ? to send; akin to G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. ap[^o]tre, Of. apostre, apostle, apostele, apostole.]1. Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel. He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. --Luke vi. 13. Note: The title of apostle is also applied to others, who, though not of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal with them in office and dignity; as, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ." --1 Cor. i. 1. In --Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ himself, as having been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In the primitive church, other ministers were called apostles --(Rom. xvi. 7). 2. The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance. 3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law) A brief letter dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the superior court, stating the case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty courts. --Wharton. Burrill. Apostles' creed, a creed of unknown origin, which was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth century. Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. --B. Jonson.
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