apostle

noun

apos·​tle ə-ˈpä-səl How to pronounce apostle (audio)
1
: one sent on a mission: such as
a
: one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up especially of Christ's 12 original disciples and Paul
b
: the first prominent Christian missionary to a region or group
St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany
2
a
: a person who initiates a great moral reform or who first advocates an important belief or system
b
: an ardent supporter : adherent
apostles of high technology
3
: the highest ecclesiastical official in some church organizations
4
: one of a Mormon administrative council of 12 men
apostleship noun

Examples of apostle in a Sentence

a fervent apostle of universal health care
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the 1960s, Gordon Bunshaft, the high-modernist apostle of SOM, designed an austere wing and enclosed an open courtyard that got little use or affection during Buffalo’s long, hard winters. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2024 The chapel was meant to house relics of the martyrs and apostles, Rossi said. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024 The story goes that 13 guests attended the Last Supper—Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles—and the next day, Good Friday, was the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 13 Sep. 2024 The July 26 segment showed a scene resembling the famous painting of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a final meal, substituting a setting depicting drag queens presiding over a banquet. Bruce Haring, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for apostle 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apostel, apostle, postel, in part going back to Old English apostol, in part borrowed from Anglo-French apostle, apostoile, appostre, both borrowed from Late Latin apostolus "ambassador, Apostle (of the New Testament)," borrowed from Greek apóstolos "messenger, envoy, (Septuagint) messenger from God, (New Testament) Apostle," noun derivative of apostéllein "to send off or away, dispatch," from apo- apo- + stéllein "to set in order, equip, prepare for a journey, send," going back to Indo-European *stel- "put up, prepare," whence also Old Church Slavic posteljǫ, postĭlati "to spread out," Albanian shtiell "wind up, reel up, collect" (from *stel-n-) and perhaps Old Prussian stallīt "to stand," Armenian stełcanem, (aorist) stełci "prepare, create" (with -c- of uncertain origin)

Note: Along with Attic-Ionic stéllein, Greek forms in Lesbian dialect and forms attested by the grammarian Hesychius that appear to be Aeolic show a variant spel-/spol-. This has led to the conjecture of a distinct root *skwel- "set in order" alongside *stel- "send"; however, the evidence for *skwel- outside Greek is exiguous. Germanic *stal(l)jan- "to fix, set, place" (whence Old English stellan, Old Saxon stellian, Old High German stellen) could be an outcome of *stel-, though it is usually taken as denominal from *stalla- "stand, stall, stable" (see stall entry 1).

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apostle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near apostle

Cite this Entry

“Apostle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostle. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

apostle

noun
apos·​tle ə-ˈpäs-əl How to pronounce apostle (audio)
1
a
: one of a group made up of Christ's twelve original disciples and Paul
b
: the first Christian missionary to a region
2
a
: the person who first puts forward an important belief or starts a great reform
b
: a loyal supporter : adherent
apostleship noun
Etymology

Middle English apostle "teacher sent out by Christ," derived from Greek apostolos "one sent on a mission"

More from Merriam-Webster on apostle

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