Origin: 1400–50;late Middle Englishapologetik a formal defense (< Middle French) < Late Latinapologēticus written defense, defensive < Greekapologētikós fit for defense, equivalent to apologē- (variant stem of apologeîsthai to speak in defense; see apologia) + -tikos-tic
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.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
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).