apostate
pronunciation
How to pronounce apostate in British English:
UK [əˈpɒsteɪt]
How to pronounce apostate in American English:
US [əˈpɑsteɪt]
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- Noun:
- a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
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- Adjective:
- not faithful to religion or party or cause
Word Origin
- apostate (n.)
- mid-14c., "one who forsakes his religion or faith," from Old French apostate (Modern French apostat) and directly from Late Latin apostata, from Greek apostasia "defection, desertion, rebellion," from apostenai "to defect," literally "to stand off," from apo- "away from" (see apo-) + stenai "to stand." Used in non-religious situations (politics, etc.) from mid-14c.
- apostate (adj.)
- late 14c.; see apostate (n.).
Example
- 1. He likened his debating partner , who happens to sit on the kingdom 's national human-rights board , but who ( he insisted ) should sit in a separate studio , to an apostate .
- 2. Return , o apostate children ; I will heal you of your apostasies .
- 3. Muslims living in the west may ( as has sometimes happened ) take the " law " into their own hands by killing an apostate .
- 4. Some christians may have followed blindly after an apostate leadership .
- 5. Osama bin laden rages that islam is under sustained attack : any muslimwho " collaborates " withthewest is an apostate .