a. [f. prec. + -IC, after Gr. στροφικός.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or addicted to the use of rhetorical apostrophe.
1820. Byron, in Moore, Life, 448. Mrs. Hemans is … too stiltified and apostrophic.
1861. Tulloch, Eng. Purit., ii. 248. Passages of apostrophic grandeur.
2. Of or pertaining to the grammatical apostrophe.
1805. L. Murray, Eng. Gram., II. iii. 53 (R.). Sometimes also, when the singular terminates in ss, the apostrophic s is not added: as, ‘For goodness’ sake;’ ‘For righteousness’ sake.’
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 49, note. The genitive has the apostrophic ’.
