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apostolate

[uh-pos-tl-it, -eyt]
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noun
  1. the dignity or office of an apostle.
  2. Roman Catholic Church.
    1. the dignity and office of the pope as head of the Apostolic See.
    2. the mission of bishops in their dioceses.
    3. an organization of the laity devoted to the mission of the Church.
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Origin of apostolate

1635–45; < Late Latin apostolātus the office of an apostle, equivalent to Late Latin apostol(us) apostle + -ātus -ate3
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for apostolate

Historical Examples

  • Moreover, his passion for his apostolate had at once returned to him.

    The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete

    Emile Zola

  • The wide unfulfilled provinces of his apostolate ever called him on.

  • Your own religious sense has taught you that there ought to be an Apostolate in the Church.

    Loss and Gain

    John Henry Newman

  • Oh perfect morals, and worthy of martyrdom or the apostolate!

    The Ruins

    C. F. [Constantin Francois de] Volney

  • He must take up his apostolate, be ready should need arise to face martyrdom.

    Romain Rolland

    Stefan Zweig

British Dictionary definitions for apostolate

apostolate

noun
  1. the office, authority, or mission of an apostle
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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