Also 6–9 apostacy. [(? a. Fr. apostasie), ad. L. apostasia, a. later Gr. ἀποστασία = ἀπόστασις ‘standing off,’ hence, desertion of one’s faith, f. ἀπο-στα- to stand off, withdraw.]

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  1.  Abandonment or renunciation of one’s religious faith or moral allegiance.

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c. 1330.  Wyclif, De Dot. Eccl., Wks. 1871, III. 438. Apostasye þat goiþ evene aȝen þe ordre of Crist.

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1395.  Purvey, Remonstr. (1851), 24. Apostasie, either goinge abak fro cristene feith.

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a. 1520.  Myrr. our Ladye, 194. They felle … in apostasye by idolatry, from the worshypynge of very god.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 44. Raphael … had forewarned Adam by dire example to beware Apostasie.

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1726.  Ayliffe, Parerg., 85. The Canon Law defines Apostacy to be a rash and wilful Departure from that State of Faith, Obedience or Religion, which any Person has profess’d himself to hold in the Christian Church.

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1852.  Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), I. xxix. 246. The rest had the choice of death or apostacy.

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1876.  Green, Eng. People, ix. § 6. 655. The most devoted loyalists began to murmur, when James demanded apostasy as a proof of their loyalty.

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  b.  R. C. Ch. The action of quitting a religious order or renouncing vows without legal dispensation.

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1532.  More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 1557, 793/2. That freres may … breake their vowes, & runne in apostasy.

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1877.  Dowden, Shaks. Prim., vi. 64. To charge with error their original vows of seclusion and to justify their present apostasy.

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  2.  By extension: The abandonment of principles or party generally.

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1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 47. Readier in the defence of it [wisdom] to haue made an Apologie, than any way to turne to Apostasie.

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1660.  Trial Regic., 36. To Doubt, or Hesitate, in a point of Allegiance, is direct Treason, and Apostasie.

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1773.  Mrs. Chapone, Improv. Mind, I. 192. Your apostacy from every good principle.

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1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, V. xl. 128. This however was not his last political apostasy.

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