a. [f. as prec. + -AL 1.]
1. Of the nature of apostates or apostasy; heretical.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, 723/1. Tindall, Luther … or some suche other apostaticall preachers.
1624. Bedell, Lett., xii. 159. To set aside the inquirie of Doctrine … were … Apostaticall, rather then Apostolicall.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 143. If a Pope was inthron’d without a Canonical Election of Cardinals … he was not to be deem’d Apostolical, but Apostatical.
1878. Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., II. vi. 120. Their Church in respect to both [faith and doctrine] apostatical.
† 2. Departing, withdrawing, retrograde. Obs.
1620. Melton, Astrolog., 53. That Saturne was Apostaticall and retrograde.
