apostolic

[ ap-uh-stol-ik ]
See synonyms for apostolic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of or characteristic of an apostle.

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of the 12 apostles.

  1. derived from the apostles in regular succession.

  2. of or relating to the pope; papal.

Origin of apostolic

1
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin apostolicus, from Greek apostolikós, from apóstol(os) apostle + -ikos -ic
  • Also ap·os·tol·i·cal [ap-uh-stol-i-kuhl] /ˌæp əˈstɒl ɪ kəl/ .

Other words from apostolic

  • ap·os·tol·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • ap·os·tol·i·cism [ap-uh-stol-uh-siz-uhm], /ˌæp əˈstɒl əˌsɪz əm/, noun
  • a·pos·to·lic·ity [uh-pos-tl-is-i-tee], /əˌpɒs tlˈɪs ɪ ti/, ap·os·tol·i·cal·ness, noun
  • non·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective
  • non·ap·os·tol·i·cal, adjective
  • non·ap·os·tol·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • post·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective
  • post·ap·os·tol·i·cal, adjective
  • pro·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for apostolic

apostolic

/ (ˌæpəˈstɒlɪk) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, deriving from, or contemporary with the Apostles

  2. of or relating to the teachings or practice of the Apostles

  1. of or relating to the pope regarded as chief successor of the Apostles

Derived forms of apostolic

  • apostolical, adjective
  • apostolically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012