apostasy 
of what one has professed; a total desertion 
of, or departure from, one's faith, principles, 
or party. 2. In theol., a total abandonment of 
the Christian faith. 
It is a mistake ... to brand as apotttacy any kind of 
heresy or schism, however criminal or absurd, which still 
assumes to itself the Christian name. Cath. Diet. 
3. In Bom. Cath. eccles. law: (a) A persistent 
rejection of ecclesiastical authority by a mem- 
ber of the church, (li) An abandonment with- 
out permission of the religious order of which 
one is a member, (c) A renunciation of the 
clerical profession by one who has received 
major orders. 4. In meil., same as apostasis. 
Also spelled apostacy. 
apostate (a-pos'tat), . and a. [< ME. apostate 
(also, as in" AS., apostata, <LL.), < OF. apostate, 
F. apostat, < LL. apostata, < Gr. diroardrw, a de- 
serter, rebel, apostate, < a<j>iorao6ai, airooryvat, 
stand off, desert: see apostasy.'] I. . 1. One 
who is guilty of apostasy ; one who has forsaken 
the church, sect, party, profession, or opinion 
to which he before adhered (used in reproach) ; 
a renegade ; a pervert. 
He [the Earl of Strafford] . . . felt towards those whom 
he had deserted that peculiar malignity which has, iu all 
ages, been characteristic of apostates. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. 
2. In the Horn. Cath. Ch., one who, without 
obtaining a formal dispensation, forsakes a 
religious order of which he has made profession. 
=Syn. A'eophyte, Convert, Proselyte, etc. See convert, and 
list under renegade. 
II. a. Unfaithful to religious creed, or to 
moral or political principle ; traitorous to alle- 
giance; false; renegade: as, "the apostate 
lords," Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. 
apostatet (a-pos'tat), v. i. [< apostate, .] To 
apostatize. 
Had Peter been truly inspired by God, ... he would 
not have apostated from his purpose. Fuller. 
apostatical (ap-os-tat'i-kal), a. [< Gr. dmxmrn- 
K6f, rebellious, < airoar&T}/; : see apostate."] Apos- 
tate ; guilty of or characterized by apostasy. 
An hereticall and apostatieall church. Bp. Hall. 
An assembly of prelates, convened by Archbishop Usher 
in 1626, declared that the religion of Papists is supersti- 
tious and idolatrous ; their faith and doctrines erroneous 
and heretical ; their Church, in respect to both, apostati- 
cal. Lrcky, Eng. in 18th Cent, vi. 
apostatize (a-pos'ta-tiz), v. i. ; pret. and pp. 
apostatized, ppr. apostatizing. [< ML. aposta- 
tizare, < LL. apostata, apostate: see apostate 
and -ize.] To abandon one's profession or 
church; forsake one's principles; retrograde 
from one's faith; withdraw from one's party. 
Also spelled apostatise. 
He apostatized from his old faith in facts, took to believ- 
ing in semblances. Carlyle. 
The English certainly were not converted to Christian- 
ity: did the Britons apostatize to heathendom? 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 131. 
apqstaxis (ap-os-tak'sis), w. [< Gr. airooTafa, 
< aTTorrra&iv, drip, distil, < cnr6, away, from, + 
OTOEW, drip.] 1. In med., the defluxion of any 
fluid, as of blood from the nose. 2. In hot., an 
abnormal discharge of the juices of plants, as 
the gumming of the plum. 
apostemt, apostemet (ap'os-tem, -tm), n. 
[Early mod. E. also apostom and apostume 
(whence by further corruption impostume, im- 
posthume, after OF. empostitmc),< ME. aposteme, 
apostym, < OF. aposteme and apostume, < L. apo- 
stema, < Gr. airoarii/L/a, distance, interval, an ab- 
scess, < atjiiaTaaOai, cnroaTijvcu, stand off, (. 0x6, off, 
+ "taraadai, aTrjyai, stand : see stasis.] An ab- 
scess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. 
Also apostcmate, and, corruptly, apostume, apos- 
thumc, impostume, imposthume. 
apostematet (a-pos'te-mat), v. i. [< ML. *apo- 
stematus, pp. of "apostemari, < L. apostema : see 
apostem.'] To form into an abscess; swell and 
fill with pus. 
apostematet (a-pos'te-mat), a. and . [< ML. 
*apostematus, pp.: see the verb.] I. a. Formed 
into an apostem; festering. 
II. n. Same as apostem. 
ni no convulsions, pricking aches, sir, 
Ruptures, or aportrmatts t 
Middleton (mid others), Tlie Widow, iv. 2. 
apostemationt (a-pos-te-ma'shon), n. [< OF. 
apostemation, < ML. aposten>atio(n-), < "aposte- 
*Mri,\>p.*apostematus: seeapostemate,,t\] The 
ition of an apostem ; the process of gather- 
ing into an abscess. Also, corruptly, imposthu- 
'irttt. 
apostematoust (ap-o-stem'a-tus), a. [< L. apo- 
stema^-), apostem, '+ -ous."] Pertaining to an 
abscess; having the nature of an apostem. 
apostemet, See apostem. 
266 
a posteriori (a pos-te-ri-6'ri). [ML. : L. a for 
all, from; posteriori, abl. of posterior, nout. ;- 
ti-rius, compar. of posterns, after, subsequent: 
see posterior.] Literally, from the latter or 
subsequent; hence, in lot/if, from a conse- 
quent to its antecedent, or from an effect to its 
cause: used of reasoning which follows this 
order, formerly called itmOMtwtio i/uin, or iiu- 
jirrliT/ ih niniixtriitiim. The phrase is also used ad- 
jcctivcly : as, n posteriori reasoning. As applied by Kant 
and all modern writers to knowledge, it is equivalent to 
.from '.i'i'i-i< //<('. or ,-mi>i rical ; and it is opposed by him 
to a priori, that is, from the intellect independently of all 
experience. See o priori. 
Inversely, the elaborate Homeric use of Cretan tradi- 
tional fables furnishes an a posteriori argument that Ho- 
mer did seek this island. lie (Juitieey, Homer, i. 
aposterioristic (a-pos-te'ri-o-ris'tik), a. [< a 
posteriori + -ist-ic.] 1. Empirical; inductive. 
2. Having a somewhat empirical or induc- 
tive character. [Rare.] 
aposthumet, " A corrupt form of apostem. 
apostil, apostille (a-pos'til), n. [< F. apostille : 
see postil.] A marginal note or annotation; 
a comment. 
He scrawled apostilles on the margins to prove that he 
had read with attention. Motley, Dutch Republic, I. 249. 
apostil (a-pos'til), v. t. ; pret. and pp. apostilcd, 
apostilled, ppr. apostiling, apostilling. [< F. 
apostiller ; from tne noun.] To annotate by 
marginal observations or comments. 
apostille, . See apoxtil. 
apostle (a-pos'l), . [Early motl. E. also by 
apheresis postle, < ME. apostle, apostel, apostell, 
apostill, etc., and by apheresis postle, pastel, < 
AS. apostol = OFries. apostol, apostel = D. G. 
Sw. Dan. apostel, the ME. form being mixed 
with OF. apostle, later apostre, mod. F. apotre, 
=s Pr. apotro = Sp. apostol = Pg. It. apostolo, < 
LL. apostolus, an apostle, also a notice sent to 
a higher tribunal or judge (def. 4), = Goth. 
apaustaulus, apaustulus = Russ. apostolii = Pol. 
apostol (barred /), etc., an apostle, < Gr. OTTO- 
orofof, a messenger, ambassador, envoy, eccles. 
an apostle, a book of lessons from the apostolic 
epistles (def. 3), lit. one who is sent away, < 
AnoriUMK send away, send off, esp. on a mis- 
sion, < air6, off, away, + areAs.eiv, send.] 1. A 
person sent to execute some important business : 
among the Jews of the Christian epoch, a title 
borne by persons sent on foreign missions, espe- 
cially by those commissioned to collect the 
temple tribute; specifically adopted by Christ 
as the official title of twelve of his disciples 
chosen and sent forth to preach the gospel to 
the world (Luke vi. 13) ; afterward applied in 
the New Testament to others who performed 
apostolic functions, as Paul and Barnabas, and 
once to Christ himself (Heb. iii. 1). in the Cireek 
Church this title is given "not only to the Twelve, but to 
the Seventy Disc_iples, and to other Apostolic men who 
were the companions of the Apostles properly so called." 
(./. M. Neale.) In later usage the title has been given to 
the first Christian missionaries in any part of the world, 
and to the pioneers of any great moral reform : as, St. 
Augustine, the apostle of the English ; St. Boniface, the 
apostle of Germany ; St. Francis Xavier, the apostle of the 
Indies ; John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians ; Theobald 
Mathew, the apostle of temperance. 
2. In the Mormon Ch., the title of an official 
whose duty it is to be a special witness of the 
name of Christ, to build up and preside over the 
church, and to administer iu all its ordinances. 
There are twelve of these officials, who rank next after the 
president and his two assistants, and constitute a Presid- 
ing High Council charged with the penal regulation of the 
affairs of the church and the settlement of important 
matters. 
3. In the liturgy of the early church, and in 
the modern Greek Church, the lesson from the 
epistles, usually taken from the writings of 
St. Paul ; also, a book containing these lessons, 
printed in the order in which they are to be 
read. 4. In law, a brief statement of a case 
sent by a court whence an appeal has been 
taken to a superior court. This sense belonged to 
the Latin apostolus among the Roman jurists, and was 
commonly used until a late date in the tribunals of the 
Roman Catholic Church. 
5. Naut., a kuighthead or bollard-timber where 
hawsers and heavy ropes are belayed Acts of 
the Apostles. See act. Apostles' Creed, an early con- 
fession of faith, of universal acceptance in the Christian 
church, preserved in substantially its present form from 
the close of the fourth century, but in its precise wording 
from about A. D. 500. Apostles' gems, in Christian sym- 
bolism, various gems assigned to the twelve apostles ac- 
cording to the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem 
(Rev. xxi. 14, 19, 20). Thus, to St. Peter was assigned jas- 
per ; to St. Andrew, sapphire ; and so on according to the 
order of their calling (Mat. x. 2, 3, 4), except that St. 
Thomas and St. Matthew interchange, and Matthias takes 
the place of Judas. Apostles' ointment, an ointment 
formerly used which was supposed to derive its virtues 
chiefly from the fact that it was composed of twelve iugre- 
apostolic 
dients (resins, gums, wax, oil, vinegar, verdigris, etc.), cor- 
rapondlng in Hiuul.fr to th.' apustlo. 
apostle-mug (a-pos'1-mng), . A mug deco- 
rated witli figures of the twelve apostles, usu- 
ally in relief, sometimes in high relief, each 
figure occupying a niche or compartment. 
apostleship (a-pos'1-ship), . [< apostle + 
-xliiji.] 1. The office or dignity of an apostle. 
2. The exercise of the functions of an apostle. 
Apostleship of prayer, in the limn. <w//,. at, a to- 
Vout union for the promotion of piety and ;!ootl works 
among the faithful, and the furtherance of the general in- 
tnvsts of tlie church, by means of prayer, especially liy <lr- 
votion to the Heart of Jesus. It was founded in the Jesuit 
house of studies at Valo, diocese of Le Puy, in France, in 
1844, and was approved by Pope Pius IX. in 180. ami again 
finally by Leo XIII. in 1879. It numbers many millions 
of associates of every condition of life throughout the 
world. 
apostle-spoon (a-pos'l-spon),'H. A spoon hav- 
ing on its handle, usually at the end, the figure 
of one of the apostles. 
A set of twelve of these 
spoons, or sometimes a small- 
er number, often formed a 
clu-istenhig gift in the six- 
teenth and seventeenth cen- 
turies. The old apostle- 
spoons which still exist are 
generally of silver gilt. 
Now, by my faith, a fair high 
standing-cup 
And two great 'pottlt-sjmou*. 
one of them gilt. 
MnlilMun, Chaste Maid, iii. 2. 
apostolate (a-pos'to- 
lat), n. [< LL. aposto- 
latus, office of an apos- 
tle^ apostolus, apostle.] 
1. The dignity or office 
of an apostle. 
That the apostolate might 
l>e successive and perpetual, 
Christ gave them [the apos- 
tles] a power of ordination. 
Jer. Taylor, Episcopacy 
[Asserted, 3. 
The ministry originally co- 
incided with the apostolate. 
Scltaf, Hist. Christ. Church, Apostle-Spoons. 
[I. 60. 
Specifically 2. The dignity or office of the 
pope ; the holder of the apostolic see : used as a 
title in the early middle ages, as the title Holi- 
ness is employed at the present time Catholic 
Apostolate, a name adopted by an ecclesiastical congre- 
gation ami certain pious societies founded by Vincent 
Pallotti, a Roman priest, in 1835. Such societies com- 
prise communities of secular priests, with lay brothers 
attached, devoted to the work of missions : communities 
of religious women, occupied with the instruction and 
care of poor girls; and associations of devoted lay men 
or women of any condition, who by their alms and prayers 
share in the above-mentioned and other good works. 
apostolesst, it. [< ME. apostolesse, apostlesse, af- 
ter OF. 'apostlesse, apostresse; cf. ML. apostola, 
fern. : see apostle and -ess.] A female apostle. 
Apostolian (ap-os-to'li-an), 11. One of a sect 
of Mennonites in the Netherlands, founded in 
the seventeenth century by Samuel Apostool, 
a minister of Amsterdam. Also Apostoolian. 
apostolic (ap-os-tol'ik), a. and n. [= F. aposto- 
liquc, < LL. agostolicus (ML. also apostoliealis), 
< LGr. anooTof.inof , < Gr. aTroaro/.of : see apostle.] 
I. a. 1. Pertaining or relating to or character- 
istic of an apostle, or more especially of the 
twelve apostles ; of the apostles or an apostle : 
as, the apostolic age. 2. According to the doc- 
trines of the apostles ; delivered or taught by 
the apostles : as, apostolic faith or practice. 
3. An epithet of the Christian church, sig- 
nifying her identity with the primitive church 
of the apostles. See apostolicity. 4. Pertain- 
ing to or conferred by the pope : as, apostolic 
privileges ; apostolic benediction. Apostolic 
benediction. See benediction. Apostolic Brethren. 
See II., 1 (<.), and Apostoline. Apostolic canons, certain 
ordinances and regulations belonging to the first cen- 
turies of the Christian church, and incorrectly ascribed 
to the apostles. A collection of them, containing fifty 
canons, translated from the Greek by Dionysius Exiguus, 
appeared in Latin about the year 500, and about fifty 
years later the Greek text, with thirty-five additional 
canons, making the whole number eighty-five, was pub- 
lished by John of Antioch ; they are all commonly printed 
at the end of the Apostolic Constitutions. Apostolic 
church. See apostolic see. Apostolic Constitutions, 
a collection of diffuse instructions, relating to the duties 
of clergy and laity, to ecclesiastical discipline, and to cere- 
monies, divided into eight books. Unlike the apostolic 
canons, they seem to have been practically unknown in 
ttie West until their publication in the sixteenth century, 
though existing in ancient MSS. in some libraries; like 
the canons, they profess to be the words of the apostles, 
written down by Clement of Rome. Controversy has ex- 
isti-d with regard to their precise age, composition, and 
authoritative character. They are now generally sup- 
posed to be considerably later than the time of the apos- 
tles, but to have been in existence, in the main, by the 
end of the third and the beginning of the fourth cen- 
tury. Apostolic council. See council. ApOStOllC fa- 
