apostle

[ uh-pos-uhl ]

/ əˈpɒs əl /

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noun

any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world.

(sometimes initial capital letter) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot.

the first or the best-known Christian missionary in any region or country.

Eastern Church. one of the 70 disciples of Jesus.

the title of the highest ecclesiastical official in certain Protestant sects.

(among the Jews of the Christian epoch) a title borne by persons sent on foreign missions.

one of the 12 administrative officials of the Mormon Church.

a pioneer of any new system or cause, especially an early leader in a reform movement: He has emerged as an apostle of a new era of peace and national unity.

a loyal supporter or follower: Our company’s apostles are motivated by the service they can render for the good of the organization.

Nautical. a knighthead, especially one having its top projecting and used as a bitt or bollard.

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Origin of apostle

First recorded before 950; Middle English apostle, apostol, apostul, apostle, from Old English apostol and Old French apostle, from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apóstolos “one who is sent out,” derivative of apostéllein “to send off,” equivalent to preposition and preverb apo, apo- “away, away from” + stéllein “to send, dispatch”; see also apo-

OTHER WORDS FROM apostle

a·pos·tle·hood, a·pos·tle·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use apostle in a sentence

She’s already been doing work as an apostle at Fragrance of Faith Ministry.
Peer coaches work to address covid-19, other health disparities in Baltimore|Meredith Cohn|November 8, 2020|Washington Post
The dispensation of Moses rested on these two pillars,apostleship and priesthood.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews|Thomas Charles Edwards
Nothing is more striking or more admirable than the self-devoted apostleship of the earlier period.
A Half Century of Conflict - Volume I|Francis Parkman
Martin Luther he looked upon as having a kind of supplemental apostleship, almost as incontestable as that of Peter himself.
Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories|Mrs. Woods Baker

Even the call and ordination to the Holy Apostleship is no guarantee of eventual exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
Jesus the Christ|James Edward Talmage
The Society was destined to reap few laurels from the brief apostleship of Biard and Masse.
Pioneers Of France In The New World|Francis Parkman, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for apostle

apostle

/ (əˈpɒsəl) /

noun

(often capital) one of the 12 disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel

any prominent Christian missionary, esp one who first converts a nation or people

an ardent early supporter of a cause, reform movement, etc

Mormon Church a member of a council of twelve officials appointed to administer and preside over the Church

Word Origin for apostle

Old English apostol, from Church Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos a messenger, from apostellein to send forth

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

apostle

Origin of apostle

OTHER WORDS FROM apostle

Words related to apostle

How to use apostle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for apostle

Word Origin for apostle