Forms: 4– apostate, 7 apostat; also 4 apostota, 4–8 -tata, 5–6 appostita, -tata. [a. Fr. apostate and L. apostata, ad. Gr. ἀποστάτ-ης, n. of agent f. ἀποστα- (see APOSTASY). The L. apostata was by far the commoner form from 1350 to 1650, with pl. apostata(e)s.]
A. sb.
1. One who abjures or forsakes his religious faith, or abandons his moral allegiance; a pervert.
1340. Ayenb., 19. Þe heretike and þe apostate þet reneyeþ hire bileaue.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wycket, 1. Infideles papistes and apostates.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 93. To haue brokyn þe cristun feiþ … & to be paynims & apostatais.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), II. 309 a/1. Julyan thappostata.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., cc. 1246. for if we play ye Papistes … we shall be apostataes.
1622. Massinger, Virg. Mart., III. i. In hopes to draw back this apostata … Unto her father’s faith.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 100. High in the midst exalted as a God Th’ Apostate in his Sun-bright Chariot sate.
1728. Young, Love Fame, I. (1757), 80. Polite apostates from God’s Grace to Wit.
1808. Scott, Marmion, II. iv. For inquisition stern and strict On two apostates from the faith.
b. R. C. Ch. A member of a religious order who renounces the same without legal dispensation.
c. 1387. Trevisa, Higden, VII. iv. Rolls Ser. VII. 309. An apostata þat brekeþ his ordre þey fongeþ nevere aȝen.
1401. Pol. Poems, II. 19. If you leave your habite a quarter of a yeare, ye should be holden apostataes.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1239/1. One Rafe sometime a moonke of Glastenburie, and now become an apostata.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IX. XIV. i. 26. The renegade who pursued his private interests by sacrificing those of his order … stood alone a despised and hated apostate.
2. One who deserts his party, or forsakes his allegiance or troth; a turncoat, a renegade.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 102. He þat passeþ þat poynt is apostata in þe ordre. [1393 Ys apostata of knyȝt-hod.]
1608. J. Day, Hum. out Breath (1881), 53. Should he proue Apostata, denie Loue which he first enforcd vs to profes.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., iii. (1691), 58. Apostates, to their own Country, and Cause.
1769. Junius Lett., i. (1804), I. 5. We see him, from every honourable engagement to the public, an apostate by design.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VII. ii. 388. No one is petted so much as a political apostate, except, perhaps a religious one.
B. adj.
1. Unfaithful to religious principles or creed, or to moral allegiance; renegade, infidel; rebellious.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. ii. 2. Folkis apostataas, that han broken her religioun.
c. 1486. Bk. St. Albans Arms, C j a. The maruellis deth of Julian thappostita Emproure.
1590. H. Barrow, in J. Greenwood, Confer., 6. All the parish … were generally apostate.
1592. Nashe, P. Peniless, 33 b. Those Apostata spirits that rebelled with Belzebub.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 125. So spake th’Apostate Angel.
1758. Jortin, Erasmus, I. 176. Eggs of heresy, which the apostata Fryer Luther had before laid.
1865. C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, i. 7. The last witness left for God in the midst of an apostate land.
2. gen. Deserting principles or party; perverted.
1671. Marvell, Corr., 198, Wks. 1872, II. 394. The apostate patriots, who were bought off.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 516, ¶ 7. Those apostate abilities of men.
