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 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 children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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).