a·pol·o·get·ic

[uh-pol-uh-jet-ik]
adjective
1.
containing an apology or excuse for a fault, failure, insult, injury, etc.: An apologetic letter to his creditors explained the delay.
2.
defending by speech or writing.
3.
willing or eager to apologize.
4.
sorry; regretful.
Also, a·pol·o·get·i·cal.


Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English apologetik a formal defense (< Middle French) < Late Latin apologēticus written defense, defensive < Greek apologētikós fit for defense, equivalent to apologē- (variant stem of apologeîsthai to speak in defense; see apologia) + -tikos -tic

a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
non·a·pol·o·get·i·cal, adjective
non·a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
pseu·do·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
pseu·do·a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
qua·si-a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
qua·si-a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·a·pol·o·get·ic, adjective
un·a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To apologetic
00:10
Apologetic is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Collins
World English Dictionary
apologetic (əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite
2.  protecting or defending in speech or writing
 
apolo'getically
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

apologetic
1640s, "vindicatory," from Fr. apologétique, from L. apologeticus, from Gk. apologetikos "defensible," from apologeisthai (see apology). Meaning "regrefully acknowledging failure" is from 1855. Related: Apologetics (c.1753).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Discrimination can be obvious and easily recognized, but many times it is
  subtle or apologetic.
Even those who study temperament can be defensive or vaguely apologetic about
  their findings.
He was exceedingly apologetic and offered to bring her flowers.
While in prison, he wrote apologetic letters to his daughters.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT