a. [ad. Gr. ἀποκαλυπτικός of the nature of revelation, f. ἀποκαλύπτειν: see APOCALYPSE and -IC.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to the ‘Revelation’ of St. John. Apocalyptic number: see Rev. xiii. 18.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies, 314. The Apocalyptick Angel which should pour out one of the Vials upon the Beast.
a. 1711. Ken, Edmund, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 104. A Babylonian purple Robe he wore, Like that of the apocalyptick whore.
1859. Masson, Milton, I. 481. Meade was at the head of the Apocalyptic commentators.
2. Of the nature of a revelation or disclosure.
1683. E. Hooker, Pref. Pordage’s Myst. Div., 66. This veri waie of Apocalyptic Manifestation.
1859. Masson, Brit. Novelists, iv. 289. Interpretative of all around and apocalyptic of all beyond, the vision of his beatified Beatrice.
1880. Swinburne, Stud. Shaks., i. 4. The recognition of the apocalyptic fact that a workman can only be known by his work.
† 3. Of persons: Dealing with the Apocalypse or with prophetic revelations generally; apocalyptical.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. Introd. 3. Without consulting our Astrologers or apocalyptic men.
1663. South, 36 Serm. (1720), II. 192 (R.). That some Apocalyptick Ignoramus or other must presently find and pick it out of some abused, martyred Prophecy of Ezekiel.
B. sb. The writer or recorder of the Apocalypse, St. John the Divine; also = APOCALYPST.
1629. Lightfoot, Misc., 107 (T.). The divine apocalyptick, writing after Jerusalem was ruined.
1872. De Morgan, Budg. Paradoxes, 292. If the cyclometers and the apocalyptics would lay their heads together until the come to a unanimous verdict on this phenomenon.
