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apostate - 6 dictionary results

a⋅pos⋅tate

  [uh-pos-teyt, -tit]
Use apostate in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.
–adjective
2. of or characterized by apostasy.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < LL apostata < Gk apostátēs, equiv. to aposta- (see apostasy ) + -tēs n. suffix

Related forms:
ap⋅o⋅stat⋅i⋅cal⋅ly  [ap-uh-stat-ik-lee] , adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To apostate
a·pos·tate   (ə-pŏs'tāt', -tĭt)   
n.  One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin apostata, from Greek apostatēs, from aphistanai, to revolt; see apostasy.]
a·pos'tate' adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Apostate

A*pos"tate\, n. [L. apostata, Gr. ?, fr. ?. See Apostasy.]

1. One who has forsaken the faith, principles, or party, to which he before adhered; esp., one who has forsaken his religion for another; a pervert; a renegade.

2. (R. C. Ch.) One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his clerical profession.

Apostate

A*pos"tate\, a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance; renegade.

So spake the apostate angel. --Milton.

A wretched and apostate state. --Steele.

Apostate

A*pos"tate\, v. i. [L. apostatare.] To apostatize. [Obs.]

We are not of them which apostate from Christ. --Bp. Hall.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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apostate 
1340, "one who forsakes his religion or faith," from L.L. apostata, from Gk. apostasia "defection, desertion, rebellion," from apostenai "to defect," lit. "to stand off," from apo- "away from" (see apo-) + stenai "to stand." Used in non-religious situations (politics, etc.) from 1362.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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